Senators Deny Allegations of Kickbacks in Bulacan Flood Control Projects

During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's session on Tuesday, dismissed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer Henry Alcantara accused Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva, and former Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. of receiving illicit commissions from flood control projects in Bulacan. Alcantara alleged that these senators profited through kickbacks tied to multi-million peso government-funded projects.

According to Alcantara's sworn affidavit, the Bulacan first district engineering office executed flood control projects valued at ₱355 million, funded through allocations linked to Estrada. These initiatives encompassed flood mitigation structures with pumping stations and floodgates in the municipalities of Hagonoy, Calumpit, and the city of Malolos.

Alcantara claimed that Estrada received 25% of the project funds as kickbacks but clarified that the transactions were managed by former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, not by himself directly. Estrada categorically refuted these claims, asserting, "I am more than ready to dismantle the baseless lies being peddled in the Blue Ribbon Committee, come hell or high water."

Villanueva was also implicated. Alcantara stated that in 2023, Villanueva intended to allocate ₱1.5 billion from his funds for multi-purpose buildings. However, only ₱600 million was disbursed as unprogrammed funds. To accommodate Villanueva, the project was reportedly converted into flood control works—leading to an alleged 25% kickback amounting to ₱150 million, which Alcantara said he handed off to an aide of Villanueva, known as "Peng," in a Bocaue rest house.

Villanueva rejected these assertions during the Senate plenary, emphasizing, "I did not request any flood control project; I was neither informed nor involved in those projects. The request was strictly for multi-purpose buildings for my constituents in Bulacan." He added, "Mr. Alcantara himself admitted that the so-called help was not delivered to me and acknowledged my lack of knowledge about the issue. Yet my name is dragged into this scandal without basis." Villanueva declared his willingness to undergo investigation by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to establish the facts.

Regarding former Senator Revilla, Alcantara testified that Bernardo informed him of budget insertions amounting to ₱300 million for flood control projects in 2024, linked to Revilla. Alcantara alleged that Revilla was entitled to a 30% commission from these projects, purportedly to support Revilla’s senatorial comeback, which did not materialize. The projects involved flood control structures along the Angat and Guiguinto Rivers in Bulacan. Revilla categorically denied any involvement, stating, "I deny. Wala po akong kinalaman diyan. I have nothing to do with any of that."

Public reaction on social media has included sarcastic remarks on Revilla and Estrada's involvement, recalling their previous detentions over plunder charges related to the pork barrel scam—charges from which they were eventually acquitted and after which they returned to public office.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee continues to probe these allegations as part of its wider oversight on government project fund management.