Obando Church to return pickup truck donated by dismissed DPWH district engineer Alcantara amid flood control scandal
The National Shrine of Our Lady of Salambao, San Pascual Baylon Parish—better known as Obando Church in Bulacan—said it's returning a pickup truck donated by dismissed DPWH district engineer Henry Alcantara amid allegations of his involvement in anomalous flood control projects.
In a statement on Sept. 22, the church noted that Alcantara donated a Nissan Navara pickup on June 1, 2024. The vehicle's price ranges from P1.124 million to P2.220 million, according to its website.
"Tinanggap namin ito in good faith dahil sa pangangailangan na rin sa ginagawang pilgrimage o pagdalaw ng imahen ng Mahal na Birhen ng Salambao upang marating ang iba’t ibang parokya," the church said. "Ito po ay ipinagkaloob ng bukal sa puso at aming tinanggap nang walang paghusga sa kalooban ng nagbigay."
But because of the news reports implicating Alcantara, the church said they immediately held a meeting on what to do with the vehicle.
"Gayunman, dahil sa mga lumabas na ulat at akusasyon ng katiwalian laban kay G. Henry Alcantara, kaagad na pinag-usapan at pinagnilayan ng Sangguniang Pastoral ng Parokya ng San Pascual Baylon ang nararapat na hakbang, at napagkasunduan naming isauli ang naturang donasyon," it said.
"Kasalukuyan po naming isinasagawa ang mga kinakailangang hakbang upang maisauli ito sa tamang paraan—sa wastong tao o institusyon at sa pamamagitan ng angkop na legal na proseso."
The decision, it noted, was in line with the stances of the Diocese of Malolos and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
"Ang Sangguniang Pastoral ay nagpapasalamat sa mga taong nagpapaalala at nagmumungkahi ng mga bagay na dapat gawin hinggil sa bagay na ito," it added. "Kung sakaling ito ay nakapagdulot ng alalahanin sa Simbahan at sa sambayanan, kami po ay humihingi ng paumanhin at nais din naming ipaabot ang aming pininindigan sa tunay na pagpapahalaga sa katarungan at kung ano ang tama.
Alcantara approved several flood control projects in his area, including a P55 million reinforced concrete river wall in Brgy. Piel in Baliuag.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. inspected the project on Aug. 20 and noted it was a ghost project. The government has already paid P43.4 million to the contractor SYMS Construction Trading, plus another P5.9 million.
The project's actual start date indicated was Feb. 2, 2025, and the contract expiry date was Oct. 22, 2025. Yet Marcos said that the report stated the project was already completed and fully paid for in June.
Alcantara handled 13 localities in Bulacan, including the flood-prone Hagonoy, Baliwag, Calumpit, and Malolos.
He also signed two more contracts for other questionable flood control projects in Bulacan: one with Sarah Discaya's St. Timothy Construction Corporation worth P94.6 million and another with Wawao Builders worth P74.6 million.
During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing last Sept. 18, Alcantara admitted to receiving two luxury cars from his subordinate, Brice Hernandez, who also accused Alcantara of making him buy a Patek Philippe luxury watch worth P5 million.
Alcantara, however, claimed to be unaware of the ghost projects in Bulacan. He also denied knowing about insertions in the national budget.
Senators then cited Alcantara in contempt for lying, and he was detained at the Senate premises.
