Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva involved in flood control project anomalies — Hernandez

Former Bulacan 1st district assistant engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez on Tuesday claimed that some senators are involved in alleged anomalous flood control projects.

Among the names Hernandez mentioned were Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva.

He also named former DPWH 1st District Engineer Henry Alcantara and Undersecretary Robert Bernardo.

Hernandez made the claim on Tuesday as the House Infrastructure Committee resumed its inquiry into alleged anomalous flood control projects.

"Puwede po bang 'wag ninyo na kong ibalik sa Senate, your honor? Kasi may mga involved pong senador dito," Hernandez said during the probe.

"Hindi ko po alam ang magiging kapalaran ko, kung ibabalik ninyo ko," he added.

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.

Reading his handwritten affidavit, Hernandez said the senators received 30% "SOP" from the projects.

"Sabi ni Senator (Rodante) Marcoleta kahapon ligtas ka na, hindi po ito totoo. Si Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Senator Joel Villanueva, Usec Robert Bernardo, at DE Alcantara," he said referring to the remark of Marcoleta during the Senate hearing on Monday.

“Si Sen Jinggoy po ay nagbaba ng P355 million at ang kanyang SOP po rito ay 30%. Mga driver namin sa District Engineer Bulacan ang nagdeliver. Nung 2023 naman naglabas ng P600 million si Senator Villanueva. Ang SOP nito ay 30% rin,” added Hernandez, who has already been dismissed as DPWH engineer over anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan. 

In a statement, Estrada challenged Hernandez to take a lie detector test with him before the public as he denied the accusations. 

"I categorically and vehemently deny the claims made by Brice Hernandez. I challenge him. LET US TAKE A LIE DETECTOR TEST before the public para malaman ng lahat kung sino ang nagsasabi ng totoo. Talk is cheap — handa akong patunayan na pawang mga kasinungalingan ang sinasabi nya tungkol sa akin," said Estrada.

(I categorically and vehemently deny the claims made by Brice Hernandez. I challenge him. LET US TAKE A LIE DETECTOR TEST before the public for everyone to know who is telling the truth. Talk is cheap — I am ready to prove that all his claims against me are lies.) 

Alcantara, who is present in the hearing, also denied the allegations, adding that Villanueva has no flood control project.

"Your honor, tungkol po sa sinasabi niya na ako ang kausap ng mga pulitiko, hindi po totoo 'yan na ako ay nagdedeliver sa mga pulitiko. Si Senator Joel, 2023 wala pong project na flood control si Senator Joel ever since," he told the committee.

"At sino po ang makakaalam kung sino ang naglalagay diyan? We are not part of the bicam as my superior said, kahit sila hindi nila alam 'yan, lalo na po ako. Naniniwala po ako na lalabas po ang katotohanan kung sino po ang may gawa ng mga ghost projects na ito," Alcantara added.

In a privilege speech at the Senate, Villanueva dismissed the allegations of Hernandez as “demolition job.” 

Villanueva said he was surprised that his name was mentioned during the House hearing.

“Uulitin ko, at parang sirang plaka na ako, Mr. President, wala akong kailanman naging flood control project. Hindi ko po sasabihin na I categorically deny this accusation dahil po may resibo po tayo. Meron pong pwede ipa-berika kung bakit ito nangyayari,” Villanueva said. 

(I’ll repeat, Mr. President, I have never been involved in any flood control project. I will not say that I categorically deny this accusation because I have receipts to show. There's information that can be verified as to why this is happening.) —Llanesca Panti/VAL/AOL, GMA Integrated News