Brice Hernandez claims he delivered P1B for Zaldy Co

Former Bulacan 1st assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez said Tuesday that he delivered an estimated P1 billion worth of money placed in suitcases to a staffer of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co

During the continuing hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee, Hernandez narrated how he transferred money to Co, following the revelation of his former boss, dismissed Bulacan first district engineer Henry Alcantara, on how they worked to give commissions off flood control projects to certain lawmakers. 

“Nag-deliver din po kami ng pera pero hindi po directly sa kanya… Hindi po namin directly nakita si Cong. Zaldy. Ang pinakausap po sa amin, ‘yung tao niya pong pangalan ay Paul,” he said.

“Maraming maleta po ng pera ‘yun, Your Honor. Tingin ko po, bilyon po ‘yun,” he added. 

Hernandez said that the money were placed in over 20 suitcases and were delivered to the staffer of Co by six or seven vans in a hotel in Taguig City. He said that one suitcase carried around P50 million. 

Meanwhile, former Bulacan 1st district engineering office construction division chief Jaypee Mendoza said that aside from the hotel, they are also delivering money to an exclusive country club in Pasig City. 

Earlier on Tuesday, Alcantara admitted that he worked with Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo in giving commissions off flood control projects to the camps of Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva , former senator Bong Revilla, Jr., former Caloocan Rep. Mitch Cajayon, and Co. 

Hernandez attested to the statement of Alcantara, but said that some names were still not mentioned. 

“Meron lang pong ilang ano pa, ilang tao na hindi niya nabanggit pero hindi ko po masabi ‘yun kasi baka kasuhan rin ako ng libel,” he said. 

(There were a few other people that he didn't mention, but I can't say their names because I might be sued for libel as well.)

Co has denied allegations that he benefited from alleged kickbacks in the DPWH flood control projects. He also refuted that he made P13 billion worth of insertions in the P6.3-trillion national budget for 2025.—AOL, GMA Integrated News