Senator Erwin Tulfo said there is a need to quiz now dismissed Department of Public Works and Highways engineer Henry Alcantara and the so-called ‘BGC boys’ after rumors went around in recent days saying he is set to recant his previous testimonies regarding the flood control scam, where he happens to be a central figure.
Alcantara’s lawyer Emil Karlo Joven had denied this, saying his client remains pledged to fulfilling his obligations under memorandum of agreement to assist authorities in the pursuit of truth and accountability.
The dismissed engineer had entered said agreement with the Department of Justice, as he seeks protection under the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program.
Notwithstanding this, Tulfo, who is also Vice Chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, said that Committee Chair Sen. Panfilo Lacson had pointed out that there are certain things that they need to find out.
“Are they being coerced? Are they being paid? Is there an exchange? If they keep their mouths shut, will they receive a lighter sentence? What’s going on? We really need to find out,” Tulfo stated.
According to Tulfo, these are just some of the important questions that he intends to seek answers to at the resumption of the Senate probe on Monday, January 19.
He also stressed that a recantation would not only definitely hurt Alcantara’s chances to be taken into the witness protection program, but would also be tantamount to courting perjury for lying under oath, which also carries a stiff jail term.
Alcantara and the other ‘BGC boys’ have identified high-profile politicians as among those involved in the multi-billion peso flood control program anomalies. BGC stands for Bulacan Group of Contractors and is comprised of DPWH officials from Bulacan who have become notorious as high-rollers in casinos, allegedly spending multi-millions per visit.
The said group is comprised of Alcantara, Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez, former Construction Section Chief Jaypee Mendoza and Project Engineer Arjay Domasig.
