Ex-Bulacan DPWH officials Alcantara, Hernandez face complaint over fake licenses

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The fake driver's licenses were allegedly used by former Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara and former assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez to gamble in casinos

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) filed a complaint against former Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara and former assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez for allegedly using fake driver’s licenses to enter casinos.

“The DOTr and LTO (Land Transportation Office) will not allow anyone to disrespect the licenses issued by the agencies, whether officials or private individuals. They will be held accountable under the law,” acting DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez said in a mix of Filipino and English on Tuesday, September 16. The complaint was filed on the same day before the Parañaque Prosecutor’s Office.

Both Alcantara and Hernandez have also been linked to ghost projects in Bulacan. The original driver’s licenses of the two former DPWH officials have been permanently revoked.

The complaint cites Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code, which penalizes the “use of falsified documents.” If found guilty, the two face up to one year in prison and a fine of up to P1 million, Lopez said.

The issue of their fake licenses surfaced in a Senate blue ribbon committee probe. Hernandez denied the allegation, but senators didn’t believe him and cited him in contempt.

Alcantara and Hernandez were also named by Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson as part of the so-called “BGC boys” or “Bulacan Group of Contractors,” a group allegedly notorious for casino gambling. According to Lacson, the two, along with Arjay Domasig, Jaypee Mendoza, and Edrick San Diego, were known to burn billions of pesos at casinos.

Transportation Secretary Lopez said that they are also preparing to file a similar complaint against Domasig and Mendoza.

Alcantara, Hernandez, and Mendoza were also named in another criminal complaint filed with the Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday, September 11.– Rappler.com