Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has denied the request for house arrest made by three dismissed engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) — Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza — who are currently detained at the Senate.
Sotto explained that he could not allow their plea out of concern that the Senate might be blamed if the engineers suddenly fled the country.
“Hindi ako payag eh. Papaano pagka biglang… hindi mahagilap… sisisihin kami. Ang sabihin nila, ‘Loko ito si Sotto, pinakawalan eh.’ Samantalang nandoon sila, naka-contempt sila sa amin by law. Nasa lugar kami ang tama,” Sotto said in an interview on Saturday, October 18.
He added that keeping the engineers under Senate custody ensures they remain accountable and traceable during the ongoing Blue Ribbon Committee investigation.
“At least, nakakasiguro naman tayo na, ‘ika nga, alam natin kung nasaan sila at hindi basta mawawala na nasa Portugal na. Nasa mga bansa na walang extradition,” he explained.
The three former officials from the DPWH Bulacan Engineering District Office were cited in contempt by the Blue Ribbon Committee for allegedly lying during the probe into irregularities in flood control projects, leading to their detention at the Senate.
Sotto remarked that their detention was, in a way, “a blessing in disguise,” since it guarantees their presence in future hearings.
“‘Pag hinanap nila, nandun. Suwerte nga eh. Blessing in disguise na na-contempt namin ‘yung apat eh. Dahil kung nagsabi ng totoo ‘yung apat na ’yan, ‘di namin mako-contempt,” he said.
Apart from Alcantara, Hernandez, and Mendoza—dubbed the “BGC Boys” or Bulacan Group of Contractors—the Senate also has Curlee Discaya in custody since September 18. Discaya was cited in contempt for allegedly lying about the whereabouts of his wife, Sarah, who failed to attend a Senate hearing.
Sotto expressed concern that the detained DPWH engineers might have the means to escape abroad, citing their alleged gambling habits as proof of financial capability.
“Aba, kung nakakapagpatalo ka ng daang milyon sa casino, ba’t hindi mo kayang mamuhay sa ibang bansa,” Sotto remarked.
The Senate continues its inquiry into the multi-billion peso flood control scam, which has implicated several DPWH officials and contractors in alleged corruption and project manipulation.