Restoring trust

The first time the image of a table became indelibly linked to the Department of Public Works and Highways was on Sept. 9 this year.

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That was when Brice Hernandez, sacked as DPWH assistant district engineer for the first district of Bulacan, presented to the House infrastructure committee a photo of a billiard table packed with enormous bundles of cash.

Hernandez testified that the money, neatly stacked in P500 and P1,000 bills, was meant as kickbacks for DPWH project proponents in contact with Henry Alcantara, who was the DPWH district engineer when the photo was taken some years ago.

The table, according to Hernandez, was in a private residence near the DPWH district office. The house was turned into a hangout by those engaged in corruption in flood control and other infrastructure projects undertaken by the DPWH.