Former Bulacan engineer faces plunder raps for P55-M ghost project

Former Bulacan 1st District engineer Henry Alcantara is accused of intentionally defrauding the government by certifying a P55-million flood control project in Baliuag as completed, despite it being nonexistent.

House Infra Committee Co-Chair Terry Ridon believes Alcantara's claim of negligence is a defense strategy to avoid plunder charges.

Alcantara had previously stated he signed the certificate of completion based on his team's inspection reports and sometimes signed off on projects without personal inspection.

Ridon dismissed this explanation, asserting that Alcantara, as head of the office, had direct liability and was most responsible for the ghost project.

The project in question is a P55-million reinforced concrete river wall project in Barangay Piel, Baliuag, awarded to SYMS Construction Trading.

The local government unit (LGU) also stated that the project skipped local government oversight.