Former Bulacan First District Engineer Henry Alcantara has been cited in contempt for lying before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Thursday.

Senator Erwin Tulfo moved to order Alcantara to explain why he should not be cited in contempt, following persistent denial of having any knowledge of bloated and misappropriated flood control project funds. Tulfo pointed out that it was improbable he was in the dark about such illicit arrangements as a superior.

“Last week pa ito, dalawang hearing na itong nagsisinungaling sa mga taong nasa baba, lahat may kasalanan, ikaw wala. District engineer ka, hindi mo alam na may ghost project. Wala ka ring alam, lumobo ‘yung budget mo? Hindi ba dumadaan sa lamesa mo ‘yan, na lumaki ‘yung pondo mo? Mr. Chair, I think this person is lying so we have to ask him to show cause why he should not be cited for contempt today,” Tulfo said.

Alcantara doubled down that he knew nothing of alleged ghost projects.

“Your Honor, kami naman po, pag lumalabas po sa GAA, ini-implement lang po namin ‘yung project. Actually, ‘yung sinasabi ko sa ghost project, talaga pong wala akong alam diyan,” he told the committee.

Finding his response “unacceptable,” Tulfo moved to cite him in contempt, to which none objected.

According to a report, Alcantara approved numerous flood control projects in his jurisdiction, such as the infamous ₱55.7 million concrete river wall in Baliuag, Bulacan, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inspected personally.