Former Department of Public Works and Highways–National Capital Region (DPWH-NCR) Regional Director Engineer Gerard Opulencia returned ₱40 million to the government on Tuesday, an amount authorities say came from illegal kickbacks linked to infrastructure projects under his watch.
The payment is an initial tranche of a larger ₱150 million that Opulencia has committed to return, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ), which said the funds were allegedly obtained from illicit earnings during his tenure.
“Ito ay idineklara niya (Gerard Opulencia) na kaniyang kinita mula sa iba’t ibang proyekto na iligal niyang nakuha,” DOJ Secretary Fredderick Vida said.
“Bahagi ito ng perang mula sa mga transaksyong hindi dapat nangyari sa ilalim ng kanyang panunungkulan bilang regional director,” he added.
Opulencia, who is currently on floating status, did not testify before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, but the DOJ said his information is crucial in pursuing other individuals allegedly involved in corruption, particularly in anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan.
“Nabatid ng kagawaran na ang kanyang mga nalalaman, ay unang-una, ay magiging material para mahabol natin iyong mga dapat talagang masampahan ng kaso,” Vida said.
He has been provisionally admitted to the Witness Protection Program (WPP), subject to further assessment. Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon explained that admission does not always require naming a single individual.
“Iyong kanyang ilalahad, hindi naman kasi ibig sabihin na para ma-consider ka sa witness protection program, all the time meron kang tao na ituturo,” Fadullon said.
“Maaari rin kasi na sa isang pagsasalaysay, mas maigi kung merong magpapatunay doon sa sinabi ng isa,” he added.
Fadullon said Opulencia’s statements support earlier testimonies.
“The testimony of engineer Opulencia actually does that. It corroborates and it substantiates the testimonies of other witnesses who come forward earlier,” he said.
The DOJ stressed the importance of recovering public funds.
“Gusto nating ibalik sa tao kung ano iyong para sa tao, para sa publiko… mas maigi na kahit papaano ay paunti-unti na maibalik natin,” Fadullon said.
The DOJ earlier confirmed that former DPWH engineer Henry Alcantara returned ₱110 million and is expected to return more. So far, Alcantara, former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, and Opulencia have been provisionally admitted to the WPP.