A state witness testified before the Sandiganbayan on Friday that he personally delivered as much as ₱800 million in a single transaction to the staff of former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co.
Henry Alcantara, a former district engineer for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bulacan, revealed the figure during a bail hearing for former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and other individuals facing a malversation case.
Alcantara told the anti-graft court that he made “several deliveries” to a residence in Valle Verde allegedly linked to Co. When asked to identify the largest amount he had ever personally handled for the lawmaker’s camp, Alcantara replied:
“As I recall, ₱800 million.”
According to the witness, a significant portion of infrastructure funds in his district—estimated between ₱6 billion and ₱8 billion under the 2023 national budget—was diverted into kickbacks. He claimed that approximately 25% of these funds were allegedly set aside for such illegal transactions.
The court examined Alcantara’s testimony to evaluate his reliability as a witness, even as the details surfaced within a separate legal proceeding.
This development follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s confirmation of Co’s recent arrest in the Czech Republic.
Co, who had been evading authorities for months, is currently being processed for repatriation to face multiple graft charges. Among these is a separate case involving a ₱289.5-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.