Criminal complaints were filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) against former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza in connection with an estimated P1.6 billion in alleged income tax deficiencies.

BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said Thursday that the bureau conducted a lifestyle check on the three as part of efforts to hold individuals linked to anomalous flood control projects accountable.

The agency found that the former DPWH personnel allegedly committed tax evasion and willful failure to file and supply correct and accurate information in their income tax returns, in violation of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.

“We saw based on the lifestyle check the amount they spent, we also get that in the Senate hearing and their properties we saw that it does not fit to their actual income or their reported revenues and the taxes they paid,” Lumagui said.

According to the BIR chief, Alcantara has an estimated P900 million tax liability, Hernandez P600 million, and Mendoza P180 million.

The investigation also showed that the officials allegedly received significant income from “proponents’ shares” or kickbacks from ghost flood control projects, which they supposedly laundered through casino gambling.

Lumagui said casino records obtained through the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) revealed that the three exchanged cash for casino chips far beyond their declared sources of income.

Records from the Land Registration Authority (LRA) and Land Transportation Office (LTO) further indicated that the officials acquired luxury vehicles, high-value real estate, and other assets also grossly disproportionate to their reported earnings.

The BIR chief said properties belonging to the former officials may be seized if they fail to settle their tax liabilities.

“Lumagui said that it is possible that they will continue to ask them to pay since it is their personal liabilities until they are paid and we will also locate their properties.”

He added that the bureau continues to investigate other government officials and private individuals linked to anomalous flood control contracts, stressing that no one will be spared.

The filing against the three DPWH officials is the second batch of criminal complaints filed by the BIR in connection with flood control irregularities. Lumagui said the bureau has now filed a total of 10 criminal cases representing ₱8,860,269,333.36 in total tax liabilities, with “more tax cases to be filed.”