'Flooded gates of hell'

Lacson bares massive corruption in DPWH; officials, contractors named

- DHEL NAZARIO

Discoveries related to the al leged corruption surrounding the anomalous flood control saga do not appear to be ending.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson on Tuesday, Sept. 9, dropped a bombshell, disclosing fresh revelations of massive corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and linking key officials and contractors to ghost and substandard flood control projects, falsification of documents, and even possible money laundering schemes in casinos.

In a privilege speech titled "Flooded Gates of Hell", Lacson detailed what he called "insatiable greed" among some DPWH officials and favored contractors, who allegedly pocketed billions of pesos intended for flood control structures in Bulacan and nearby localities.

"Justice must catch up with these people because enough is enough," Lacson declared, as he vowed to submit all evidence gathered by his office to an independent probe body and the proper authorities.

'BGC Boys' and money-laundering in casinos

Lacson zeroed in on a group of five DPWH officials from the Bulacan First District Engineering Office, whom casino employees allegedly dubbed the "BGC Boys" - not for Bonifacio Global City, but as the "Bulacan Group of Contractors." antified Former DPWH OIC ASsistant Regional Director Henry C. Alcantara (alias Joseph Castro Villegas) OIC District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez (alias Marvin Santos De Guzman) Assistant District Engineer Jaypee Mendoza (alias Peejay Castro Asuncion) Project Engineer Arjay Domasig (alias Sandro Bernardo Park) Engineer II Edrick San Diego.

Based on records obtained by Lacson from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), the group incurred gross losses of P950 million in casinos across Metro Manila, Cebu, and Pampanga. Despite these staggering losses, they also reported massive winnings, which Lacson suggested may have been part of a money-laundering scheme.