By: Villamor C. Visaya Jr.
(Published in its print edition on August 30 – September 5, 2025)
ANYONE who have the penchant of amassing too much money just to satisfy their insatiable desire can be regarded as greedy people.
Short of literally “plundering money” out of the flood control projects, one official who is being abhorred is Bulacan First District Engineer Henry Alcantara, the easy-go-lucky official who claimed innocence in the P55-million ghost project that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inspected in the past weeks.
Reports of his dismissal from post, as ordered by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, would lessen the burden of public tirades against the erring workers in the said agency.
Any top official who is in his right mind would not sign and report a river wall project in Bulacan complete if no infrastructure facilities were done. But Alcantara certified instead. If money changes hands, no one knows but such foolish act is tantamount to plundering people’s money.
Now, he was not only dismissed from service but will also face appropriate charges being prepared by the DPWH top honchos against him.
He is not alone. Even Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez and Engr. Jaypee Mendoza from the DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office have been ordered by Dizon to be dismissed from their posts. When inspected, a P96.5-million flood control project in Barangay Sipat, Plaridel, Bulacan was left with a backhoe and has been far from complete. Yet, the budget for the project was reportedly disbursed already.
So, any public official enchanted with dirty money must keep in mind: “Moderate your greed!”
*****
The woes pile up from one to the other for the Discaya couple—DPWH contractors Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya.
Aside from their 12 luxury vehicles initially held by the Bureau of Customs through a search warrant, they are also facing charges of ghost and substandard flood control projects.
Much more, they would also be facing charges soon over the alleged poor structural design and unfinished work of the Philippine Film Heritage Building (PFHB) in Intramuros, Manila. The Discaya-owned Great Pacific Builders and General Contractor Inc. has been building the project.
Insensible as she is, Sarah flaunted her money and boastfulness for saying in a broadcast interview with Julius Babao that she bought a P42-million Rolls Royce just because of its freebie, a luxurious and fashionable umbrella.
Not only that, the Discayas flaunted to their hearts content that they own 40 luxury vehicles in that interview but later reported only 28 when grilled by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
More than P200-million-worth cars have been bought by the Discayas from their importers, Frebel Enterprises and Autoart Luxury Cars.
Aside from the Rolls Royce, car lovers are probably drooling over the DIscaya’s P22-million Mercedes Benz Maybach, P20-million Bentley Bentaga, P20-million Mercedes Benz-AMG Wagon G63, P11-million-worth each of two units of Cadillac Escalade, P11-million-worth each of two units of GMC Yukon Denali, P16-million Range Rover Autobiography, P7-million Range Rover Defender, P5-million Range Rover Evoque, and P3-million Chevrolet Suburban.
Wheww! As if they are saying that tell the brand of the cars and we have it!
*****
