4 ex-DPWH officials, contractor now state witnesses — DOJ

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January 15, 2026 | 4:10pm

MANILA, Philippines — Four former Department of Public Works and Highways officials and a contractor have been admitted as state witnesses in cases involving alleged anomalous flood control projects, the Department of Justice said.

At a press briefing on Thursday, January 15, Anthony Fadullon said former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, former Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara, former DPWH National Capital Region director Gerard Opulencia, and contractor Sally Santos are now covered by the witness protection program.

Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said the four have returned a combined amount of more than P300 million to o the government.

“Sila po ang nag-aabalik ng kabuuang P316,381,500,” Vida said. (They are the ones returning the total amount of P316,381,500.)

Vida clarified, however, that admission into the witness protection program does not automatically remove all criminal liability.

He said state witnesses are discharged from criminal liability only in cases where they have provided evidence that can be used by the prosecution.

“Isa po sa mga karapatan ng mga state witnesses na ina-admit po sa programa is to be discharged from criminal liability doon po sa kasong tinutulungan nila kami,” Vida said. (One of the rights of state witnesses admitted into the program is to be discharged from criminal liability in the specific cases where they are assisting us.)

Limits to immunity

Vida said this does not apply to all cases, particularly those involving so-called ghost projects.

“Kasi sa ghost project bayad yung contractor… ’Pag tinignan ’yung project, wala ’yung project,” he said.

(Because in ghost projects, the contractor is paid, but when you look for the project, it does not exist.)

“So saan mo pa kakailanganin yung state witness? So kakasuhan mo sila,” he added.

(So where would you still need a state witness? That is when you file charges against them.)

DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez said the amounts returned by the state witnesses were broken down as follows:

• Henry Alcantara — P181 million
• Gerard Opulencia — P80 million
• Sally Santos — P20 million
• Roberto Bernardo — P35 million

Who becomes state witness? Under the law, a state witness is a person who participated in the commission of a crime and agrees to testify for the government, subject to conditions including the gravity of the offense, the necessity of the testimony, lack of other direct evidence, corroboration, and that the witness does not appear to be the most guilty and has not been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.