Brice Hernandez back to Senate custody

Former Bulacan first district assistant engineer Brice Hernandez was placed back under the custody of the Senate on Monday following his transfer from the Pasay City Jail.

According to the Office of the Senate President, Hernandez arrived at 10:10 a.m. It said he has undergone a medical examination.

This is after Hernandez’s camp filed a writ of amparo with the Pasay Regional Trial Court Branch 112 asking for a temporary protection order and to be placed under the witness protection program.

“The Writ of Amparo was filed to secure his protection and ensure his freedom from threat and harm,” Atty. Ernest Levanza, Hernandez’s legal counsel, said in a statement.

“With the court’s order transferring him from Pasay City Jail to the Senate, the risk to his safety has been significantly reduced. We welcome this positive and favorable development," he added.

During the hearing of the House infrastructure committee, Hernandez alleged that some senators were involved in anomalous flood control projects. He earlier requested not to be brought back to the Senate.

Due to this, he was transferred to the Philippine National Police Custodial Center.

However, he was later transferred to the Pasay City Jail after senators debated on where he should be detained. 

Following this, the office of Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Hernandez’s camp requested his readmission to the Senate detention facility.

In their letter, Hernandez’s camp said there is “renewed faith” under the leadership of Sotto and Blue Ribbon committee chairperson Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.

Hernandez was cited in contempt under the leadership of former Blue Ribbon chairman Senator Rodante Marcoleta.

“[T]here is assurance that the Senate will stand not only as a body of discipline but as an exemplar of fairness. To allow Brice Hernandez to remain within the Senate is to affirm that the institution does not turn away from difficult truths, nor cast aside those who risk their safety to speak them,” the letter read.

Sotto granted the request and the court took note of it. 

Hernandez is expected to appear in the next hearing of the Blue Ribbon committee.—with a report from Giselle Ombay/AOL, GMA Integrated News