Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Tuesday that the serious allegations made by former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer Henry Alcantara warrant charges against lawmakers accused of benefiting from irregular flood control projects.
With the committee’s approval, granted by senator Panfilo Lacson, Remulla will take Alcantara to the DOJ to fully evaluate his affidavit.
In his signed affidavit, Alcantara named several officials as alleged recipients of kickbacks, including senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva; former senator Ramon Revilla Jr.; and representatives Zaldy Co and Mitch Cajayon-Uy, along with former DPWH undersecretary Robert Bernardo.
“Due to the gravity of the allegations in (Alcantara’s) affidavit and it being a sworn statement, I believe that this will be very helpful to the Department of Justice and the Witness Protection Program in trying to file a case as soon as possible as this is the demand of the people,” Remulla said during the fifth hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
