Blue Ribbon panel cites DPWH Bulacan's Brice Hernandez in contempt

The Senate Blue Ribbon committee on Monday cited former Bulacan 1st district assistant engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez in contempt after he repeatedly denied alleged information regarding his casino ventures. 

Senator Erwin Tulfo made the motion acting, which was seconded by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada. 

Blue Ribbon committee chairman Senator Rodante Marcoleta approved the motion after no senator objected. 

Hernandez denied that he entered a casino in 2025, where he won over P6 million in March and lost over P25 million in April, P10 million in May, P14 million in June, and P15 million in July.

“Your Honor, ang natatandaan ko lang po nagpunta po ako ng Okada is umattend lang po kami ng convention,” Hernandez said.

(Your Honor, I remember that I went to Okada just to attend a convention.)

“So hindi mo aaminin na ikaw ay nanalo kahit na ito'y nasa record ng Okada? Hindi ka aamin nito?” Marcoleta asked.

(So, you won’t admit that you won despite this being on record in Okada?)

“Your Honor, hindi po talaga, hindi po talaga, hindi po totoo yan Your Honor,” Hernandez replied.

(Your Honor, that is really not true.)

Hernandez also denied using the alias “Marvin de Guzman” to enter casinos, adding that they were only given a membership number.

“Your Honor, nagsasabi po ako ng totoo, membership member po ang binigay sa akin ni boss Henry,” Hernandez said.

(Your Honor, I'm telling the truth. My boss Henry [Alcantara] only gave me a membership number.)

He also said he only enters a casino whenever Alcantara is with them and uses the money provided by the Bulacan first district engineer.

However, this was refuted by Alcantara.

“Hindi po, Your Honor. Kung pera ko po yun, bakit ko po ipahihiram sa kanya ipagagamit ko po sa kanya,” Alcantara said.

(That’s not true, Youf Honor. Why would I let them use my money?)

Hernandez was not directly taken away to be detained in the Senate facility as senators insisted that he stay in the session hall first to answer other questions during the ongoing hearing. —AOL/RF, GMA Integrated News