Senate awaiting Henry Alcantara's transfer to DOJ

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Tuesday said that the Department of Justice (DOJ) can now take into its custody former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan 1st district engineer Henry Alcantara anytime.

This, after Senate Blue Ribbon committee chairperson Panfilo "Ping" Lacson expressed Monday that he is amenable to turn over Alcantara to the DOJ.

“Just waiting for DOJ to get him,” Sotto told the media.

Asked if the DOJ can get Alcantara from the Senate’s custody anytime, the Senate President said, “Yes, basta sa DOJ. Pwede kasi namin hiramin din ‘yun.”

(Yes, as long as he is transferred to DOJ. We can also borrow him from there.)

Alcantara is currently detained at the Senate after he was cited in contempt on September 18, 2025 by the Blue Ribbon Committee.

The DOJ announced last Thursday that Alcantara is now considered a state witnesses in the government’s investigation of the flood control controversy.

DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez on Tuesday said a formal request will be made regarding Alcantara's transfer of custody to the Witness Protection Program (WPP).

"The DOJ is set to file a formal request letter for the transfer of custody of Henry Alcantara to the WPP," Martinez said in a message sent to reporters.

"As for the remaining resolutions on the cases involving SYMS Construction Trading, these are scheduled to be released this week and are currently being finalized by the handling prosecutors," he added. — RSJ/KG, GMA Integrated News