Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Tuesday revealed in his privilege speech the staggering ₱950 million gambling losses of five Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, the so-called “BGC Boys” formally known as the Bulacan Group of Contractors, in the second installment of his investigative exposé, Flooded Gates of Corruption.

Lacson presented the group, which includes former DPWH officials Henry Alcantara and Brice Hernandez, as part of a larger pattern of alleged corruption tied to flood control projects in Bulacan.

Identities of the so-called BGC Boys:

• Henry Alcantara (alias Joseph Castro Villegas) – Dismissed DPWH Bulacan District Engineer
• Brice Ericson Hernandez (alias Marvin De Guzman) – OIC District Engineer
• Jaypee Mendoza (alias Peejay Castro Asunsion) – Assistant District Engineer
• Arjay Domasig (alias Sandro Bernardo Park) – Introducing himself as contractor from Syms Trading Corporation
• Edrick San Diego – Contractor
  

According to official and validated records from 13 casinos across Metro Manila, Cebu, and Pampanga, the group reportedly incurred a combined gross loss of P950 million in gambling.

Breakdown of reported "losses:"

• Hernandez - P435,042,998
• Mendoza - P418,656,672
• Alcantara - 36,736,961
• Domasig - P16,944,930
• San Diego - P42,442,472

A separate report covering August 31, 2023, to April 4, 2024, at Newport World Resorts in Pasay City showed significant "wins:"

• Hernandez - P169,068,665
• Mendoza - P320,106,072
• Alcantara - 4,707,106
• Domasig - P7,379,485
• San Diego - P11,798,050

“Sinuwerte nga ba sabay-sabay na nanalo ang mga ito o baka naman money laundering scheme,” Lacson questioned.

He alleged that the group manipulated casino transactions by converting cash into chips, losing a small amount intentionally, then cashing out and declaring their chips as winnings.

Magpapalit ng cash into casino chips pero kapag natalo na ng kaunti pupounta sa cashier para magcash out at ideklarang panalo ang pinagpalitan nilang chips,” he said.

According to Lacson, images of Hernandez circulating on social media show him openly visiting Metro Manila casinos as recently as September 1, despite ongoing Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings on the matter.

“They may hide their identities, but having spent practically all my law enforcement years conducting intelligence and investigative work,” Lacson said.

Lacson warned that their criminal activities cannot escape reckoning.

"I know criminals when I see them," the Senator emphasized.

“No one can shield them from the day of reckoning that they deserve. Lalong-lalo na kung lantaran at walang pakundangan na ang pagnanakaw at paglustay sa kaban ng bayan,” Lacson stated.

Lacson described the group, which includes Alcantara and Hernandez, as having a “shared love for money,” highlighting their persistent indulgence in casino gambling even as Bulacan residents struggle with severe flooding caused in part by the alleged mismanagement of public funds.

Based on official records from 13 casinos across Metro Manila, Cebu, and Pampanga, the five contractors reportedly incurred P950 million in gross losses.

Lacson emphasized that some of these declared wins may have been falsified, suggesting potential money laundering or manipulation of casino chips and cash-outs.

"Habang lubog pa rin sa tubig-baha ang mga taga-Bulacan dahil sa mga pangungurakot ng mga ito at kahit buking na mismo ng Pangulo ang kalokohan, sige pa rin ang pagpapasasa ng BGC Boys sa pagwawaldas ng pera ng taumbayan. Walang kahiya-hiya sa katawan, walang konsensya ang mga ito," the Senator emphasized.

Flood control projects anomalies

The exposé also highlighted anomalies in flood control projects in Bulacan, including the Maycapiz, Taliptip River project in Brgy. Perez, Bulakan, which reportedly cost ₱92.58 million on Dec. 17, 2024.

He also said that it received a second tranche of payment when it reported an 89% completion rate in March 2025.

Lacson criticized the project for its substandard execution and unusually rapid disbursement of funds, suggesting collusion with SYMS Construction, which he claims facilitated fraudulent progress billings. Documentation submitted for two separate progress billings by SYMS Construction appeared to use the same images, suggesting that subpar work was presented as completed.

“Hindi ito basta ghost project lamang, hindi lamang ito substandard o palpak, this project may be added to the wonders of the world. Because it will keep us wondering how in the world it was implemented as such an extraordinary speed and paid in extraordinary haste," he pointed out.

“SYMS Construction appears complicit in broad daylight robbery—not once but twice,” Lacson said. "Dapat makasuhan din ang contractor na ito bukod pa sa forever blacklisting."

The Senate investigation into the BGC Boys’ gambling activities and their connection to mismanaged public infrastructure continues to uncover what Lacson called “brazen plunder of the people’s money” and the intertwining of corruption and casino indulgence among government contractors.