Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer Henry Alcantara handed over ₱71 million to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday as part of the restitution process in the anomalous flood control investigation.
Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said Alcantara “has been provisionally admitted” into the Witness Protection Program and “now qualifies as a state witness.”
He is obliged to testify on behalf of the state under his memorandum of agreement with the DOJ.
Alcantara’s latest turnover forms part of the ₱300 million he is required to return, following an initial ₱110 million turnover last month.
“Over time, we will definitely make sure na kung ano ‘yung nakalagay doon sa memorandum of agreement na amount na isasauli ay maisauli nila sa takdang panahon,” Fadullon said.
He clarified that Alcantara is not required to return the full amount immediately due to frozen accounts included in Court of Appeals freeze orders.
“Hindi naman ito kasi nangangahulugan na may obligasyon na isauli mo lahat nung kailangan mong i-restitute agad-agad dahil sa kailangan nating unawain na meron silang mga accounts, like Mr. Alcantara, that are included in the freeze orders issued by the Court of Appeals,” he added.
Regarding social media observations that the restituted money appeared to be old banknotes, Fadullon said authorities do not ask for the money’s origin but will “try and track” the source.