Ex-DPWH officials face more complaints over fake licenses for casino entry

Metro Manila, Philippines - Dismissed public works officials Henry Alcantara and Brice Hernandez are facing more criminal complaints, this time for falsifying documents to gain access to casinos and gamble with supposed pocketed flood control funds.

On Tuesday, Sept. 16, the Transportation department and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) filed complaints with the Parañaque prosecutors office against the two Bulacan district engineers for using fake licenses.

Senate President Pro Tempore and blue ribbon panel chairman earlier named Alcantara and Hernandez in his privilege speech as part of the so-called “BGC” (Bulacan group of contractors) who used aliases to enter Okada Manila and gamble away hundreds of millions of pesos.

Alcantara’s license had the alias “Joseph Castro Villegas,” while Hernandez is “Marvin Santos De Guzman.”

The LTO said both licenses were fraudulent.

Acting Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez said the dismissed officials may be penalized up to P1 million and serve time for six years.

He said cases will be filed as well against other “BGC boys,” namely, dismissed assistant district engineer Jaypee Mendoza, engineer Arjay Domasig, and Edrick San Diego.

Lopez said those who issued fake licenses to public works personnel will also face complaints.

“Ang DOTr at ang LTO, hindi po natin hahayaan na lalapastangin ng ninuman mapa-opisyal o pribadong indibidwal ang lisensya ng DOTr at LTO,” Banoy said.

[Translation: The DOTr and the LTO - no one, whether an official or a private individual, should disrespect the license issued by the DOTr and LTO.]

Alcantara, Hernandez, Mendoza, and Domasig are among the 20 DPWH officials facing criminal complaints for alleged malversation of public funds and violation to the graft and corrupt practices act and government procurement law.