MANILA — A Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer testified that he delivered at least P5 billion from contractors to former DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineer Henry Alcantara, equivalent to 25 percent of the cost of Bulacan infrastructure projects from 2022 to 2025.
Carlo Rivera, who reportedly ran errands for Alcantara, made the testimony during the bail hearing of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in his plunder case over an alleged P7.4-billion government infrastructure kickback scheme.
Rivera said the money handed to Alcantara was then delivered to former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, who then distributed it to project proponents.
He said the 25 percent commitments were a portion of the cost of Bulacan infrastructure projects, which totaled P519 million in 2022, P12.93 billion in 2023, P14.19 billion in 2024 and P7.385 billion in 2025.
Rivera also confirmed that he prepared a consolidated list of project proponents for flood control projects. The list included Co, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, and former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
He said Alcantara forwarded the list of proponents so the projects he identified could receive funding.
When asked by the defense if former House Speaker Romualdez was not named as a proponent in the list he prepared, Rivera answered in the affirmative.
Rivera also testified that he frequently accompanied contractors who delivered cash to Alcantara.
“Ii-store ko dun sa room [sa loob ng office ni Alcantara] and ire-relay ko kay D.E. [Alcantara] na delivered na,” he said.
He said Alcantara gave him a list of contractors’ contact details so he could coordinate cash deliveries with them.
Rivera said he dealt directly with Topnotch Catalyst Builders owner Eumir Villanueva. His contacts for other contractors were a person named “Alex” for ARL Builders, “Jessica” for Wawao Builders, and “Robert” for IM Construction Corp.
For SYMS Construction Trading, Rivera named former DPWH Bulacan 1st District Assistant Engineer Brice Hernandez as his contact.
SYMS contractor Sally Santos earlier testified in Revilla’s malversation case that she lent her contractor’s license to Hernandez, who promised to implement projects.
Rivera said the project proponents were identified by Alcantara himself.
Alcantara’s former personal assistant, Wirt Walter Rosales, previously testified that he helped Rivera count cash from contractors in a “secret room” inside Alcantara’s office before packing the money into plastic containers or suitcases for delivery to Co.
When the prosecution presented black plastic containers in court, Rivera confirmed that these were the containers they used.
Rivera was suspended from his post from September 2025 to March 2026 and is currently on floating status.
Meanwhile, the prosecution proposed stipulations on the certificates of title covering a property owned by ECO Leisure and Hospitality Holding Company at Horizon Homes in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, which it said was beneficially owned by Co and his wife, Mylene.
It also alleged Mylene Co signed the deed of sale in her capacity as the company’s chief financial officer.
The defense agreed to stipulate to the authenticity of the documents but said it was not conceding that Co was the property’s beneficial owner.
Co’s former bodyguards, who previously testified in the case, mentioned the BGC unit as a location where they delivered cash-filled suitcases. The money was reportedly stored there before being distributed to project proponents.
Former DPWH Usec. Roberto Bernardo is scheduled to testify on Thursday.
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