The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a significant recovery of public funds on Thursday, January 16, 2026, linked to the controversial ghost flood control projects scandal. Acting Secretary Fredderick Vida revealed that the government has successfully reclaimed more than PHP316 million in restitution from individuals now cooperating as state witnesses.
Key Figures and Amounts Returned
During a press briefing, Vida detailed the substantial amounts already returned to the national coffers. The restitution came from four primary individuals: Henry Alcantara, a DPWH Bulacan district engineer, who returned PHP181 million; Gerard Opulencia, a DPWH Regional Director, who gave back PHP80 million; former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, contributing PHP35 million; and government contractor Sally Santos, who returned PHP20 million.
Vida emphasized the critical role these witnesses are playing, stating they are cooperating with the DOJ to strengthen the cases against other primary targets. "They are helping the DOJ to strengthen our cases against those we want to run after," the acting secretary said.
PHP1.5 Billion Target and Witness Status
The financial recovery is expected to grow substantially. DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Ty disclosed that the government estimates it will recover a total of more than PHP1.5 billion from these four state witnesses. This sum represents the restitution of ill-gotten wealth allegedly received as kickbacks from the fraudulent ghost project contracts.
However, not all applicants for state witness protection have been accepted. Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon clarified that two former DPWH assistant district engineers, Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, have not been discharged as state witnesses for now. Fadullon explained that the prosecution currently sees no need to accept their applications in the specific cases where they sought witness status.
Implications for Government Accountability
This development marks a pivotal moment in the government's aggressive campaign against corruption, particularly within large-scale infrastructure projects. The successful recovery of hundreds of millions in pesos demonstrates a tangible outcome from the ongoing investigation into the ghost projects, which involved funds being released for non-existent flood control initiatives.
The collaboration of former insiders as state witnesses is seen as crucial for building airtight cases against the main architects of the scheme. The DOJ's actions signal a continued effort to pursue accountability and reclaim public money lost to graft, with the promise of further recoveries as the legal proceedings advance.
