Romualdez name absent from Alcantara project lists

The name of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez did not appear on consolidated project proponent lists maintained by former Public Works district engineer Henry Alcantara, a prosecution witness testified during Romualdez’s bail hearing on the plunder case.

DPWH engineer Carlo Rivera, who also served at the Bulacan First District Engineering Office, told the Sandiganbayan Third Division that Alcantara had tasked him with delivering contractor advances, called “commitments,” and entering project proponents into the agency’s database.

Rivera said contractors paid the advances to secure government infrastructure projects. He delivered the money to Alcantara, who then arranged its transfer to former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo or former Congressman Zaldy Co.

In one instance, Rivera testified that he delivered P5 billion in contractor advances to Alcantara before the money was turned over to Co, who was responsible for distributing the amounts to project proponents.

Rivera also said he contacted contractors to ask about their commitment fees. These included Topnotch Catalyst Builders, ARL Builders, Wawao Builders, IM Construction Corp. and SYMS Construction Trading.

He identified former DPWH Bulacan First District assistant engineer Brice Hernandez as his contact at SYMS Construction.

During an earlier hearing, SYMS owner Sally Santos testified that she had lent her contractor’s license to Hernandez, who reportedly secured P1.8 billion in infrastructure contracts through the arrangement. Santos said she received a 3 percent “royalty.”

Romualdez’s bail hearing is scheduled to resume on 29 October, when prosecutors are expected to present Bernardo as a witness.