Ridon: Estrada, Villanueva free to attend House probe to answer allegations

Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva are free to attend the House infrastructure committee probe on flood control projects to respond to allegations of corruption, House infrastructure panel chairperson and Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said Wednesday. 

Estrada and Villanueva have been accused by former Assistant Engineer Brice Hernandez of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) of being involved in anomalous flood control projects.

“Our protocol is that kapag napangalanan ang Congressman o Senador, they have the right to make a statement,” Ridon said in a Super Radyo DZBB interview.

(We won’t force them to come because of interparliamentary courtesy. The protocol is if a member of the House or Senate is mentioned in the allegations, they would have the right to explain their side.)

Ridon, however, clarified that the House won’t force the senators to show up in the ongoing probe due to interparliamentary courtesy.

“Kapag po kasi imbitasyon, they could take it as something na pinupwersa namin sila,” explained Ridon. 

(Because if it is an invitation, they could take it to mean that they are being forced.)

"Malaya po sila magpunta sa Kongreso para magpaliwanag, kung gusto po nila,” he added.

(They are free to go to the House probe and explain.)

Estrada and Villanueva have already issued statements denying the accusations. 

'Very important'

Ridon, meanwhile, described Hernandez' testimony as "very important" in the ongoing probe amid the public interest to unmask politicians involved in supposed anomalous deals. 

“Ang hinahanap po ng tao iyong pulitiko sa likod [nitong mga anomalous flood control], kaya very important ang testimony ni Brice Hernandez, particular sa senador na involved, kasi may line items na binabanggit, pati ang total ng projects," said Ridon.

(People are looking for politicians backing these anomalous projects; that is why Mr. Hernandez’s testimony is very important. He mentioned line items of flood control projects and the total number of projects.)

“Pag na-trace po iyong line item na iyon sa actual proposal ng mga senador at ghost project iyon, madadawit talaga sila," added Ridon.

(If we can trace this line item and it is actually a proposal of a senator and it is a ghost project, then we may be able to find the link.)

Estrada on Tuesday challenged Hernandez to take a lie detector test to find out if he really is telling the truth.

"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.) 

Villanueva, meanwhile, dismissed the allegations, which he called a “demolition job.” 

 "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.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News