Alcantara to testify vs Co

MANILA, Philippines — Henry Alcantara, a former district engineer of the Bulacan regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and now state witness, will testify in the trial of the malversation case against resigned lawmaker and now fugitive Zaldy Co and 15 others in connection with the alleged substandard P289.5-million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. 

 During the trial hearing on March 19,  government prosecutors told the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division they will present Alcantara as a prosecution witness on March 24. 

 Alcantara is among four people who have been admitted into the witness protection program in connection with the controversial flood control cases.

Alcantara and contractor Sally Santos of SYMS Construction Trading were both dropped as respondents in cases involving anomalous flood control projects after they were admitted as state witnesses, the Department of Justice said yesterday, as it announced that three of the cases were transferred to two “designated special courts” in Quezon City.

While they had hesitated to file charges, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla admitted they are now determined to exhaust all legal avenues to bring Co back to the country.

Meanwhile, four tax-related cases against private contractor Curlee Discaya II have been filed before the Court of Tax Appeals. – Ghio Ong, Rainier Allan Ronda