Henry Alcantara, Sally Santos dropped from malversation, graft cases

Due to their status as state witnesses, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer Henry Alcantara and contractor Sally Santos were dropped as respondents in cases over anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan, according to the Department of Justice.

Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez said the two were dropped as respondents in three malversation and graft cases filed with a Bulacan court concerning flood control projects involving SYMS Construction.

“By virtue of his admission as state witness by the WPP, Henry Alcantara was dropped as respondent and not included in the Information filed in court,” Martinez said in a message to reporters.

“Sally Santos was not charged,” he later added.

The two were named state witnesses in January, along with former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo and former DPWH regional director Gerard Opulencia.

Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida previously explained that to be admitted as a state witness is to be discharged from criminal liability.

Meanwhile, Martinez said that those charged were former DPWH assistant engineers Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, and several others.

The cases were filed on January 30, February 9, and February 13 with a Bulacan court, Martinez said on Wednesday.

However, the cases were later transferred to a Quezon City court designated as a special court for corruption-related cases.

The official added that the respondents in these cases were arraigned in the first week of March.

“Thus, trial commenced on the dates that the accused were arraigned,” Martinez said. 

The pre-trial hearing for the two cases will be on April 13 at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 79.

Hernandez and Mendoza are detained at the New Quezon City Jail along with other respondents in the flood control mess.—AOL, GMA Integrated News