'Talagang safe ka na,' Marcoleta quips as contractor denies links with Jinggoy

W.J. Construction’s Mina Elamparo-Jose on Thursday denied having transactions with Senator Jinggoy Estrada as alleged by former Bulacan 1st district assistant engineer Brice Hernandez. 

During the resumption of the the Senate blue ribbon committee on the flood control projects controversy, Jose said their construction company had no ghost nor substandard flood control projects. 

“As for myself, I speak from the depth of my heart that I have never engaged in any illegal activity. I have never given nor received any money from any public official or government employee, including this Mr. Brice Hernandez. Thus, I strongly deny his accusations, the baseless and malicious accusations he threw against me and WJ Construction during the congressional hearing,” Jose said. 

Hernandez earlier told a House hearing that WJ Construction allegedly delivers “obligations” or “kickbacks” to Beng Ramos, whom he identified as a member of Estrada's staff.

Senator Rodante Marcoleta then asked Jose if she knew Estrada or brought any money to him.

“Hindi po. Kahit kay Brice, wala po akong dinalang pera (No, I didn’t bring any money even to Brice),” she answered. 

Marcoleta then quipped as he told Estrada, “Okay. so talagang safe ka na (you’re really safe now.)”

Hernandez, a former engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), previously claimed that Estrada and Senator Joel Villanueva were involved in the anomalous flood control projects.

Estrada had repeatedly denied that he received a 30% kickback from P355 million worth of allocations and said that he had no staff named Beng Ramos. 

Villanueva has also denied the allegation.

'Veranda fix'

Jose, however, admitted that she went to the Senate premises on August 19, to visit the office of Senator Erwin Tulfo for an ocular inspection of a refurbishment project.

“Meron po kasing problem ‘yung terrace ni Senator Erwin na binabaha po siya lalo po pag umuulan. So ako po yung na-refer na contractor nung staff niya na kung pwede po tingnan namin, gawan ng solusyon and mag-suggest po kami sa kanya,” Jose said. 

(Senator Erwin’s terrace has flooding problems, especially when it rains. So I was the contractor referred by his staff. They asked if we could look at it, come up with a solution, and make a suggestion to him.) 

Tulfo, in response, said that he only learned of the WJ Construction through a staff member who recommended that the company fix his office’s veranda. 

“But upon learning, her name was mentioned by Engineer Brice, we immediately requested to cancel all contracts with WJ where I specifically ordered to terminate our office refurbishment project with WJ,” the senator said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News