Ex-DPWH engineer shows photos of bundles of cash 'for proponents'

Former DPWH Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez presented photographs of bundles of one thousand peso bills to the House Infrastructure Committee on Monday, stating that the pictures were taken from the Bulacan First District Engineering Office sometime in 2022 or 2023.

Hernandez presented the photos during his testimony in the congressional inquiry into the alleged anomalies involving undelivered or "ghost" and substandard flood control projects.

He said that the funds were being segregated for distribution to project "proponents."

“Sa office po namin 'yan, sa Bulacan First District Engineering Office. Ang context po niyan is kung makikita niyo po, magkakahiwalay po yung pera. May mga designated person po na pagbibigyan yan, Your Honor. Kung maalala ko po, ako po ang nag-picture nito," Hernandez said.

(That was taken from our office, in the Bulacan First District Engineering Office. As you can see, the bundles of cash have been separated into groups. Each has been set aside to be given to a designated person. Based on what I can remember, I was the one who took this photo.)

"Kasi diyan lang po ako nakakita ng ganyan karaming pera. First time ko po ‘yan, pinikturan ko, natuwa po ako. And that's for, inaayos po ni boss ‘yan,” he added.

(This was the first time I saw that much money. I was so delighted that I took a picture. Boss was the one preparing the cash.)

Hernandez said his superior, former District Engineer Henry Alcantara, gave the instructions to segregate the funds on a table for distribution to "proponents."

He said it was only Alcantara who talked to politicians and project proponents.

“Hindi ko po alam kung sino. Basta kami po inuutusan lang po na ayusin ‘yung mga pera. Itong amount na to para sa ganito, ihanda mo dyan. May pagbibigyan yan. Ganun lang po,” Hernandez said.

In another photo of bundles of cash, the money appeared to cover the entire top of a billiard table. More bundles can be seen in another table.

Photos involving senators

Hernandez also presented photos showing Sen. Jinggoy Estrada with Alcantara and Sen. Joel Villanueva's supposed Viber messages to the former district engineer in Bulacan.

Before revealing the photos, Hernandez alleged that Estrada and Villanueva took 30% commission money out of government-funded flood control projects.

Hernandez showed photos of Estrada with Alcantara at the Solaire Hotel in Pasay and screenshots of Viber messages between Alcantara and Villanueva.

DPWH engineer JP Mendoza said the Viber messages indicated that Villanueva was following up on his request for a flood control project in Bulacan.

“Sir, ‘yung picture po na yan ay noong October 2023 na kung saan nagre-request po si Senator Joel ng flood control. Ang sinasabi ni Senator Joel ay mababa lang ang kanyang pondo subalit siya ay Majority Leader and he was a member of Commission on Appointments at that time,” Mendoza said.

The screenshots of the conversation between Villanueva and Alcantara showed Villanueva saying, “Again, naguguluhan ako bigla kay Sec. Parang nakalimutan ba niya?.”

Another screenshot showed Hernandez conversing with a certain Beng Ramos, whom Hernandez identified as a staff member of Estrada.

Both Estrada and Villanueva have issued statements denying any involvement in the irregularities concerning flood control projects. –NB, GMA Integrated News