SYMS Construction owner fears Brice Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza could hurt her

SYMS Construction Trading owner and manager Sally Santos named Thursday former Bulacan 1st district assistant engineer Brice Hernandez and construction division chief Jaypee Mendoza as the ones who could hurt her and her family.

During the continuation of the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on anomalous flood control projects, Senator Ronald dela Rosa asked Santos why was she apprehensive to answer questions.

"Nung nakaraang hearing masyadong free flowing ka magsalita, normal na normal, natural na natural, ngayon napansin ko na may apprehension ka na, parang takot ka. Meron bang nananakot sa 'yo? Meron ka bang kinatatakutan? Bakit biglang nagbago ang demeanor mo?" Dela Rosa said.

(In the previous hearing, you talked freely, very normal, very natural, now I noticed that you have apprehensions, as if you are afraid. Is there someone intimidating you? Are you afraid of something? Why does your demeanor changed?)

Santos replied that there were heavily-tinted vehicles circling their house.

"Kasi po sa bahay ko po marami pong umiikot na mga sasakyan, hindi po namin malaman kung sino ang sakay, tinted po 'yung window ng mga sasakyan...antagal po hindi po namin malaman kung sino ang sakay sobrang tinted po nung mga sasakyan," she said.

(There were vehicles circling our house, we don't know who were inside because the vehicles were heavily-tinted.) 

Dela Rosa then asked who Santos thinks were doing it to her, to which the contractor replied: "Ang pwede lang naman pong gumawa sa akin nito sina Engr. Brice at saka sina Engr. Jaypee."

(Only Engr. Brice and Engr. Jaypee can do that to me.)

Hernandez denied the allegation.

"Wala po, hindi ko po iniisip 'yun (No,I did not think of that)," he said when Dela Rosa asked him about the matter.

Earlier at the hearing, Santos sought physical protection from the Blue Ribbon committee.

"Mr. Chair, Your Honor, puwede po ba bago ako magsalita, puwede bang humingi po ako ng proteksiyon?" Santos asked.

(Mr. Chair, Your Honor, before I talk, can I ask for protection?) 

"Basta po proteksiyon kasi natatakot po [ako]," she added.

(Any kind of protection because I'm afraid.)

Santos previously admitted to delivering around P245 million in cash to a Department of Public Works and Highways office in one day. She said she could have delivered up to P1 billion to the DPWH office from 2022 to the present.

Santos also said Hernandez ordered her to borrow contractors' licenses for his projects. —AOL, GMA Integrated News