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Some former DPWH engineers and a contractor involved in the flood control scandal have returned bundles of cash and luxury vehicles. But how does this amount compare to what was stolen?

The Philippines has lost billions of pesos to corruption tied to flood control and other infrastructure projects, according to government investigations.

While many Filipinos continue to suffer during floods, a small number of officials and contractors have lived in luxury, funded by public money.

Investigations have revealed cash-packed suitcases delivered to politicians, piles of money partitioned on a long table in a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district office in Bulacan, and government engineers gambling millions in casinos.

The Marcos administration has promised to hold those responsible accountable. A handful of individuals are now in jail. Numerous complaints are pending before the Office of the Ombudsman. The government has also begun freezing the assets of those allegedly involved.

But, how much money has actually been recovered?

Cash recovered (running total): P247 million

Ex-DPWH engineer Henry Alcantara: P180 million

Dismissed Bulacan 1st District engineer Henry Alcantara, implicated in the public works scandal, turned over P180 million to the government.

He surrendered P110 million on November 28, and another P71 million on December 19. Alcantara has pledged to return a total of P300 million to public coffers.

Ex-DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo: P7 million

Former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo surrendered a bank account holding P7 million to the government in November 2025. However, the account remains frozen at the request of the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

Ex-DPWH National Capital Region director Gerard Opulencia: P40 million

Former DPWH National Capital Region director Gerard Opulencia also turned over P40 million to the Department of Justice. He has committed to return at least P150 million.

Contractor Sally Santos: P20 million

SYMS Construction Trading General Manager Sally Santos has returned P20 million to the government.

Santos first handed over P5 million on December 4, and another P15 million on December 22. Her company was behind multi-billion-peso ghost flood control projects in Bulacan.

Recovered properties

Brice Hernandez’s luxury cars

Former DPWH engineer Brice Hernandez surrendered two luxury vehicles — a Lamborghini and a black GMC Yukon Denali SUV — to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI). The GMC SUV is valued at P12 million by the commission, though it retails in the US for roughly $80,000 (around P4.5 million).

Discaya couple’s luxury cars

The Bureau of Customs seized 13 luxury cars from Sarah and Curlee Discaya, whose companies secured multi-billion-peso flood control contracts over the past decade.

These vehicles lacked proper importation documents or had questionable certificates of payment. Four of the seized cars have been auctioned:

• Mercedes Benz G63 AMG (2022): P15.6 million

• Mercedes Benz G500 Brabus (2019): P15.5 million

• Lincoln Navigator L (2021): P7.1 million

• Toyota Tundra: P3.48 million

• Toyota Sequoia: P6 million

The auctions generated P47.68 million, which will be remitted to the national treasury.

Scale of losses in infra corruption

There is no precise figure for the total public money lost to flood control and infrastructure corruption.

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, head of the Senate blue ribbon committee, had estimated that roughly 60% of the country’s flood control funds have been pocketed.

Over the past 15 years, the government has spent more than P1.9 trillion on flood control under the DPWH. By Lacson’s estimate, the government has lost P1.14 trillion, of which only P247 million — or 0.022% — has been recovered so far.

Former finance chief and now Executive Secretary Ralph Recto earlier placed the economic losses at P118.5 billion over the past two years alone.