SP Sotto allows Brice Hernandez to face independent commission

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said Thursday he signed an order to allow former Bulacan 1st district assistant engineer Brice Hernandez to testify before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which was created by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to look into anomalous flood control projects.

Sotto confirmed this during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing into flood control issues, noting that the ICI issued subpoena duces tecum and subpoena testificandum for the former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer. The two subpoenas, respectively, require Hernandez to appear before the commission, and to bring documents, records, or evidence to the proceedings.

"I already signed the order that you be brought to the independent commission and thereafter they will probably try to seize up information that you will be giving and you will come back here," the Senate President said. 

Sotto said he would authorize the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms to bring Hernandez to the ICI, which has started to conduct internal meetings and visit supposed flood control project sites.

He also encouraged Hernandez to tell the truth during the hearing as the ICI is different from the Senate, which is conducting the inquiry in aid of legislation. 

Hernandez, one of the former DPWH personnel implicated in the flood control mess, is currently detained at the Senate after he was cited in contempt by the Blue Ribbon Committee last Monday. 

"Your Honor, nakikiusap lang po ako kung mapagbibigyan niyo po na ma-lift ang contempt sa akin para makahanap ako ng mga ebidensya na makakapagpatunay na may ibang taong matataas na involved pa," Hernandez asked the Senate panel. 

(Your Honor, I'm asking if you can lift the contempt order against me so that I can find evidence that can prove that there are other high-ranking people involved in this.)

Panel chairperson Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson denied the engineer's plea, saying it would be unfair for other individuals who were cited in contempt.

Sotto, meanwhile, said the Senate will consider his appeal if he testifies before the ICI. 

"We will consider that and they may consider that after you testify with the commission," the Senate President said.

Through President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s Executive Order 94, the ICI has been tasked to investigate and evaluate evidence, intelligence reports, and information, against all government officials and employees, as well as any other individual, involved in anomalies, irregularities, and misuse of funds in the planning, financing, and implementation of government flood control and other infrastructure projects across the country.

The body shall prioritize the investigation of flood control and other infrastructure projects within the last 10 years from the effectivity of the order. 

Based on its findings, the body shall recommend civil and administrative cases or actions against those responsible to the appropriate disciplinary, prosecutorial, and administrative bodies, such as the Office of the President, Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of Justice, and the Civil Service Commission. — VDV, GMA Integrated News