DPWH engineer claims Estrada, Villanueva accepted 30% cut in flood control contracts
MANILA, Philippines — Former assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez of Bulacan First District dropped a bombshell statement at the House flood control probe, saying he served as one of the bag men of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Sen. Joel Villanueva.
But before he accused the senators, the House Infra Committee first questioned Hernandez about how the district engineering office in his province operated with the alleged kickbacks promised to public officials.
It can be recalled that Syms Construction Trading general manager Sally Santos said at the Senate probe that she delivered over P1 billion worth of cash in boxes since 2022 to Hernandez's office under the leadership of former district engineer Henry Alcantara.
Hernandez confirmed this at the House Infra Committee's second hearing on Tuesday, September 9, saying he did not touch any of the funds stored in his office.
"Lahat po ng dinedeliver ni Sally Santos na pera na nakakahon, wala po akong ginagalaw doon. 'Yun po ang pinapakuha ng boss ko sa opisina ko. Doon nilalagay kasi alam na walang taong umaakyat sa opisina," he said.
Asked how much Alcanatara took from these funds, he said he does not know the amount, but confirms that the directive to collect the boxes of cold cash came from him. Hernandez also described Alcantara as "authoritative" and someone he had followed at every command.
"Si DE Alcantara naman ang masasabing chief implementor, siya po ang kausap ng lahat ng pulitiko na involved dito," he said.
Plea not to return to the Senate
It was at this point that Hernandez was questioned whether any other public officials received kickbacks from the government's flood control projects. Hesitant at first, he appealed to the joint committee to keep him safe in the House, as he was about to name some senators.
"Pwede po bang 'wag niyo na po ako ibalik sa senate dahil may involved pong mga senador dito. At hindi ko po alam kung ano magiging kapalaran ko kung ibinalik niyo po ako doon," he said.
Hernandez was cited for contempt and detained in the Senate for repeatedly denying he had a fake driver's license, which he allegedly used to go to casinos.
Rep. Terry Ridon, who chairs the House Infra Comm, assured Hernandez that his safety and security will be ensured. The panel will request the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which is now chaired by Sen. Ping Lacson after Sen. Chiz Escudero's ouster, if they may keep Hernandez in the House instead.
Estrada's alleged P355M
Hernandez, who was satisfied with that answer, read a prepared statement listing the flood control projects that Estrada and Villanueva were involved in.
He said they had a 30% cut or "commitment" from the alleged budget insertions made to the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
"Sabi ni Sen. Marcoleta kahapon 'Ligtas ka na.' Hindi po 'yun totoo. Si Sen. Jinggoy nagbaba ng po ay nagbaba ng P355 million ngayong 2025 sa mga ilang projects sa Bulacan. Ang sabi ng boss ko dito ay 30% ang commitment dito," Hernandez said, adding that he learned this from Alcantara.
During the Senate hearing yesterday, it was Estrada who asked construction magnate Pacifico "Curlee" Discaya whether he had given any kickback or payoff to a senator, to which Discaya denied.
Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, who previously chaired the blue ribbon committee, teased Estrada by saying, "Ligtas ka na (You're safe now.)" This irked Estrada, who resented his colleague's remark and moved to strike it from the hearing's transcript.
In a statement, Estrada categorically denied Hernandez's claims. "I challenge him. Let us take a lie detector test before the public para malaman ng lahat kung sino ang nagsasabi ng totoo," the senator said, adding he is prepared to prove his innocence.
Villanueva's alleged P600M
After dropping Estrada's name, Hernandez said Villanueva, too, had inserted or endorsed P600 million worth of infrastructure projects in the 2023 GAA. He also had the same 30% cut, or what they call "standard operating procedure," to refer to a payola-like scheme.
"Noong 2023 naman, naglabas ng P600 million si Sen. Joel Villanueva. Ang SOP nito ay 30%," Hernandez added.
The dismissed assistant district engineer then enumerated the projects where Estrada and Villanueva had allegedly received kickbacks. He also said drivers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bulacan's First District and Alcantara normally delivered the kickbacks to politicians and DPWH Undersecretary Robert Bernardo.
Alcantara's denial
Alcantara, however, rejected Hernandez's claims. He said he doesn't deliver cash to public officials. He also said Villanueva did not have a flood control project in 2023.
Alcantara also argued that DPWH officials are not involved in the budget hearings where the alleged insertions or revisions to specific line items could be made.
"Hindi po totoo na ako ang nagdedeliver sa mga politiko. ... At sino po ang makakaalam kung sino ang naglalagay diyan, we're not part of the bicam. Wala po kaming alam diyan. We are not even involved in budget hearing," he said.
But Hernandez did not take his former chief's denial sitting down. He fired back, recalling a time when Alcantara attended one of Estrada's birthday celebrations in Solaire.
"Kung hindi po sila magkakilala, there was a time na nagbirthday si Sen. Jinggoy sa Solaire. Umattend po siya. Kung hindi po sila magkakilala, your honor.... just additional info lang," Hernandez said.
Alcantara confirmed he was present at the birthday party, but said he was only invited by some of the city hall chiefs.
What went before
Both chambers of Congress have been investigating the flood control anomalies and the alleged ties to lawmakers. In the Senate, Discaya accused more than 17 lawmakers of receiving kickbacks from his family's government projects.
More than half of the lawmakers have already denied ties with the Discayas or the contracts they had won.
RELATED: Which House lawmakers denied ties to kickback scheme in gov't projects?
Due to the potential conflict of interest, the executive branch is already set on establishing an independent commission to investigate the DPWH's projects.
All this came after President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. ordered the investigation of flood control projects across the country during his fourth address to the nation.
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