DPWH engineer: Contractors paid around P10-M 'kickback' per project to Henry Alcantara

Prosecution witness and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer John Carlo Rivera on Tuesday testified that at least five contractors paid P10 million per project as commitment fee or kickback fee to former DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office district engineer Henry Alcantara.

Rivera, who holds the post of Engineer 2 at DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office, made the testimony at the Sandiganbayan during the trial for the malversation case filed against former senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. and six others.

The case involves the P92.8-million 'ghost' flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan which had no structure.

Rivera told the anti-graft court that Alcantara instructed him to collate a list of flood control projects to be funded under the national budget, with the project proponents or the public officials and the contractors who pay a commitment fee in the aftermath of awarding the projects.

Rivera said those contractors who paid a 25% to 30% commitment fee include:

• JB Construction
• Triple A Construction
• Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.
• Floordesk Construction
• IM Construction
• Ferdstar Builders, among others.

“Iyon po ang nare-recall ko. Iyon po ang madalas [na magbigay ng commitment fee],” Rivera told the anti-graft court.

(That's what I can recall. They are the ones who often [give commitment fee].)

“Each of them would give commitment fee three to four times…worth around P10 million per project,” Rivera added.

Rivera said that the commitment fee per contractor and the corresponding proponent are determined by Alcantara.

Asked by the Sandiganbayan justices what made him follow Alcantara’s instructions, Rivera responded by saying he wanted to be promoted.

“Naka-detail po kasi ako sa kanya,” Rivera said.

(I am detailed under him.)

Aside from Revilla, others accused in the case include:

• former DPWH Bulacan Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez.
• former DPWH Engr. Jaypee Mendoza.
• former DPWH Engr. Arjay Domasig.
• former DPWH Engr. Emelita Juat.
• DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office finance section chief Juanito Mendoza, and
• DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office cashier Christina Pineda

Revilla, who is detained at the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas, Quezon City, has repeatedly denied involvement in the said alleged ghost flood control project. —KG, GMA News