‘Pure evil’: Outrage flares as photos show alleged kickbacks in flood control projects

Posted by ReyFort Media

Filipinos could not help but express outrage after images surfaced showing bundles of cash allegedly “for delivery” to proponents of flood control projects of former Department of Pubic Works and Highways Bulacan First District Engineer Henry Alcantara.

During a hearing at the House Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday, September 9, former DPWH assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez testified that his former superior, Alcantara, had instructed him and others to collect money for various individuals.

These allegedly included Sens. Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva.

Hernandez also presented photos showing stacks of P1,000 and P500 bills neatly piled and segregated on a table.

He claimed the cash was first collected, sorted, and then divided based on a list of individuals allegedly receiving kickbacks from the flood control projects.

The process reportedly took place at a so-called “tambayan,” an area Hernandez said was owned by Alcantara’s friend. While not located inside the DPWH office, it was within its vicinity.

The House of Representatives is currently investigating alleged anomalies in flood control projects nationwide, with the probe initially focusing on the failed and “ghost” projects in Bulacan’s First District.

These projects were among the infrastructure developments that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. personally inspected and flagged for irregularities.

“Ghost” flood control projects refer to infrastructure initiatives that exist only on paper, either never built or left unfinished, yet reported as “complete” and paid for.

Alcantara was suspended and later dismissed from his position, following Marcos’ inspection of these projects. He was also recently found guilty of administrative charges over the anomalous flood control projects under his watch.

Meanwhile, Hernandez’s photos showing thick bundles of cash allegedly prepared for politicians as part of the kickback scheme sparked outrage among Filipinos online. May expressed disgust and frustration over the scale of alleged corruption.

“It could’ve been used to improve the education, health care, and be given to other public sectors, pero pinang-casino lang ng mga p*k*ng*na,” another Pinoy wrote.

“Mga demonyo talaga. [Pangpatayo] na lang sana ng magaganda ospital at eskwela ‘yan,” another online user said.

“Imagine, gigising ka nang napaka-aga para sa trabaho mong maliit ang sahod. May pamilya kang binubuhay at kulang pa ‘yung sahod mo sa bills, tuition fee, at pagkain. Tapos ganito ‘yung katarantaduhan ‘yung ginagawa ng p*t*ng*nang gobyerno ng Pilipinas,” a different online user commented.

“Imagine working 9-7 every f*cking day, commuting through hell and high water with no infrastructure to support your journey… only to have a huge chunk of your income stolen by these people. Bring guillotines back,” said another Pinoy.

“PURE EVIL. Nakakaiyak kasi nagpapakahirap tayong magtrabaho araw-araw para lang may maipangtustos sa mga gastusin natin. Nagbabayad tayo ng TAX, tapos napupunta lang sa mga gahaman na politikong kurap. Hindi ko masisisi na galit na ang karamihan sa atin. NAKAKAGALIT. P*ny*ta,” commented another user.

Content creator Macoy Dubs also shared the photo and reacted.

“Nakakapanghina, mga sis,” he wrote.

“Grabe. Isang probinsya pa lang ito. At normal lang daw. Mga demonyo kayo. Limpak limpak na pera. Ilang chemotherapy ng batang may sakit ‘yan, dialysis, sako ng bigas, klasrum, bangka, gatas,” photographer and author Geloy Concepcion wrote.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson previously discussed “systematic corruption” in the country’s flood control projects in his privilege speech, stating that funds for specific projects are often divided based on greed from both the public and private sectors.

The lawmaker presented deductions from projects, which include regular taxes and insurance.

He also added that eight to 10% is also deducted from the funds allotted for the contractor’s profit.

Lacson likewise said that 8 to 10% of the share is for DPWH officials, an additional 2 to 3% for the District Engineering Office if there is an excess in the contractor’s profit, 5 to 6% for members of the Bids and Awards Committee, and 0.5 to 1% the Commission of Audit.

He added that 20 to 25% of the funds “usually goes to the funder or the politician who proposed the project.”

“There is an evident pattern of this nasty distribution of public funds among crooks. This is based on case studies we visited and thoroughly investigated in different parts of the country, particularly on the issue of flood control,” Lacson said. (J. Malasig/ Interaksyon  with reports from Philstar.com/D. Flores )