File Photo: SPORTS COMPLEX. Senator Joel Villanueva (center), together with (from left) District Engineer Henry Alcantara of the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office, Bocaue Vice Mayor Alvin Cotaco, Rep. Gavini “Apol” Pancho, and CIBAC Party-list Rep. Domeng Rivera lead the groundbreaking for a PHP40-million sports complex along Gov. Halili Avenue, Barangay Biñang 2nd, Bocaue, Bulacan on Tuesday (Nov. 24, 2020). The sports complex was named after Sen. Villanueva’s sister, the late Bocaue Mayor Joni Villanueva. (Photo by Manny Balbin/PNA)
Tila hindi bago sa pandinig ni Sen. Joel Villanueva ang tinukoy ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson na isa sa dalawang dating district engineer ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) na sangkot umano sa “most notorious” flood control anomalies sa lalawigan ng Bulacan.
Sa kanyang “Flooded Gates of Corruption” privilege speech, isiniwalat ni Lacson na pinakatalamak sa anomalya sa flood control projects ang Bulacan na may halos 30 ghost projects at ang pangunahing mga dawit umano sa iskema ay sina dating District Engineer Henry Alcantara at dating Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez.
Isa aniya sa kanila ay nabalitaan ni Lacson na nagpatalo ng daan-daang milyong piso sa casino.
“There were even reports that one of them has lost hundreds of millions in a casino here in Manila,” sabi ni Lacson.
Sa isang artikulong inilathala ng Philippine News Agency, isang state-controlled online media platform, noong Nobyembre 24, 2020 ( https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1122798) ay nakasaad na ang konstruksyon ng Mayor Joni Villanueva Sports Complex sa Bocaue, Bulacan ay isasagawa ng DPWH sa ilalim ng pamamahala ni District Engineer Henry Alcantara ng Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office.
“He (Sen Joel Villanueva) said the PHP40-million fund for the construction of the sports center will come from his office, the Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Party-list, and also from the province’s second district Rep. Gavini “Apol” Pancho,” ayon sa artikulo.
“He said the Mayor Joni Villanueva Sports Center will be constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways under District Engineer Henry Alcantara of the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office.”
Matapos ang privilege speech ni Lacson kahapon, si Villanueva ang unang nagbigay ng manifestation, “Ginahasa po ng flood control program ng gobyerno ang aming lalawigan, ang Bulacan.”
Hindi niya binanggit na naging bahagi ng isang proyekto ng partylist group ng kanyang pamilya sa Bulacan si Alcantara. (ROSE NOVENARIO)