File Photo: SPORTS COMPLEX. Senator Joel Villanueva (center), together with (from left) District Engineer Henry Alcantara of the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office, Bocaue Vice Mayor Alvin Cotaco, Rep. Gavini “Apol” Pancho, and CIBAC Party-list Rep. Domeng Rivera lead the groundbreaking for a PHP40-million sports complex along Gov. Halili Avenue, Barangay Biñang 2nd, Bocaue, Bulacan on Tuesday (Nov. 24, 2020). The sports complex was named after Sen. Villanueva’s sister, the late Bocaue Mayor Joni Villanueva. (Manny Balbin/PNA)
Senator Joel Villanueva appeared unsurprised when Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson named one of two former district engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) allegedly involved in the “most notorious” flood control anomalies in Bulacan.
In his privilege speech titled “Flooded Gates of Corruption,” Lacson revealed that Bulacan had the highest concentration of irregularities in flood control projects, with nearly 30 ghost projects uncovered.
He identified former District Engineer Henry Alcantara and former Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez as central figures in the alleged scheme.
“There were even reports that one of them has lost hundreds of millions in a casino here in Manila,” Lacson said.
A Philippine News Agency article dated November 24, 2020, noted that the construction of the Mayor Joni Villanueva Sports Complex in Bocaue, Bulacan was carried out by the DPWH under the supervision of District Engineer Henry Alcantara of the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office.
According to the article, Senator Villanueva stated that the ₱40-million funding for the sports complex came from his office, the Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Party-list, and Bulacan 2nd District Representative Gavini “Apol” Pancho.
Following Lacson’s exposé, Villanueva was the first to respond on the Senate floor, declaring, “Ginahasa po ng flood control program ng gobyerno ang aming lalawigan, ang Bulacan.”
However, he did not mention that Alcantara, one of the engineers named in Lacson’s speech, had previously overseen a project funded by his party-list group in Bulacan. (ZIA LUNA)
