Alcantara’s office has ‘secret room’ for alleged kickbacks – witness

MANILA, Philippines — State witness and former Public Works-Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara has a “secret room” in his office where the money for alleged kickbacks were counted and stored.

A witness disclosed this to the Sandiganbayan Third Division on Thursday. 

Wirt Walter Rosales, Alcantara’s personal assistant since 2021, made the revelation when he testified before the anti-graft court during the bail hearing of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Romualdez is facing a plunder case over alleged kickbacks from infrastructure projects worth P7.44 billion. 

Associate Justice Karl Miranda, Third Division chair, asked Rosales about the “secret room” which he revealed in his written judicial affidavit.

READ: Witness: Zaldy Co’s alleged kickbacks have acknowledgment receipts

“That’s what they call it,” Rosales said when asked by Miranda if there is such a thing as a “secret room” in Alcantara’s office. “That’s what I’ve heard.”

Rosales said this “secret room” is “big,” which he estimated to be up to five by five meters.

According to him, it is in the secret room where he and Alcantara’s personnel Carlo Rivera count the money.

On one occasion, Rosales said he himself counted more than P100 million inside the secret room. 

After counting, Rosales said the “maleta” (suitcases) containing the money was “just left in the secret room.” 

Rosales said he was in charge of delivering suitcases intended for former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, who is also a co-accused of Romualdez in this plunder case.

He further said he asked Rivera to create and print acknowledgment receipts for the deliveries which, he said, was intended for Co.

Alcantara already testified as a prosecution witness before the Third Division on Tuesday (Oct. 20), while Rivera will also take the witness stand next Tuesday. /apl