Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said on Saturday, Sept. 20, that testimony from former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan First District Engineering Office head Henry Alcantar could open the proverbial "can of worms" in the flood control investigation.

And this is what makes it important, the veteran lawmaker said.

During the previous hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Lacson, Alcantara repeatedly denied knowledge of his DPWH Bulacan assistant engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez's claims, who always referred to him as "Boss Henry".

Based on Hernandez's statements, most of the orders, from the project implementation, receipt of payment, kickbacks, and communication with the proponents came from Alcantara.

The latter was cited in contempt during the hearing for repeatedly denying his involvement or any knowledge of the anomalous flood control projects. He claimed that he merely signed documents.

"Hopefully kasi nakadetain ngayon si Henry Alcantara baka naman makapagisip-isip makapag self-reflect at magbago ng isip, ay malaki ang maitutulong niya sa investigation hindi lamang sa blue ribbon kundi sa ICI (Hopefully, since Henry Alcantara is currently detained, he might have the chance to think things over, self-reflect, and change his mind, which could greatly help the investigation — not only of the Blue Ribbon Committee but also of the ICI)," Lacson said in a radio interview over DWIZ.

"Kasi halimbawang nagbago siya ng isip at sinabi niya na totoo yung sinasabi ni Brice na ako yung kausap ni government official na ganito at mayroon din siyang maipapakita na katibayan, malaking bagay yun, mabubuksan wide open yung misteryo ng mga flood control projects (Because if, for example, he changes his mind and admits that what Brice is saying is true — that he was the one dealing with this government official — and he can also present supporting evidence, that would be a big deal. It would blow wide open the mystery behind the flood control projects)," he added.

For Lacson, it's obvious that Alcantara is the mastermid behind the corruption scheme.

"Medyo obvious yun kasi si Henry Alcantara siya yung district engineer hanggang June this year (That’s rather obvious since Henry Alcantara was the district engineer until June of this year)," he said.

"Mas kapani-paniwala yung pagturo nila Brice Hernandez kay Henry Alcantara na siya yung nakakaalam kung sino yung pinagbibigyan na sila maaring hindi nila abot (It makes Brice Hernandez’s pointing to Henry Alcantara more credible, as he would know who the recipients were — people they themselves might not have direct access to)," he added.