Jinggoy Estrada files perjury complaint vs. Brice Hernandez

Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday filed a perjury complaint against former Bulacan first district assistant engineer Brice Hernandez with the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

In his complaint for four counts of perjury, Estrada said Hernandez “publicly and maliciously concocted lies under oath” to tarnish his name and reputation.

According to his office, Estrada cited Hernandez’s alleged false statements that he received kickbacks from flood control projects, statements that linked Estrada’s staff to ghost projects, his initial denial of involvement, and his initial denial of use of an alias and casino activities.

He charged Hernandez under Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code.

Estrada asked the prosecutors to imprison Hernandez, impose a fine up to P1 million, and to perpetually disqualify him from public office.

He also sought the issuance of a precautionary hold departure order to prevent Hernandez from leaving the country.

Hernandez's lawyers — Raymund Fortun and Ernest Levanza — both declined to comment, with the latter saying they have yet to see the perjury complaint.

Levanza, however, noted that this is not the first case filed by Estrada against his client. He said that a subpoena was earlier issued against his client in connection with a separate defamation and injunction case.

“These cases must be seen for what they truly are: attempts to intimidate and silence a whistleblower. Such actions pose a serious threat to the protection of whistleblowers and undermine the integrity of congressional inquiries,” he said.

He added that what is at stake goes beyond personal grievances.

“This is about safeguarding the right of citizens to speak the truth, especially in aid of legislation,” he said.

It was Hernandez who linked Estrada and Senator Joel Villanueva to allegedly anomalous flood control projects during the inquiry of the House Infrastructure Committee, alleging that they received 30% “SOP” from the projects.

“Ang sabi ni Brice Hernandez tumatanggap daw ako kickback ng 20%. Meron daw akong tinanggap. Tinuro niya si Henry Alcantara,” Estrada said in an ambush interview.

(Brice Hernandez said that I was allegedly receiving a 20% kickback. He claimed that I accepted something and pointed to Henry Alcantara.)

“Nung nag testify si Henry Alcantara, binanggit yung pangalan ko pero sinabi niya wala akong transaksyon, walang transaksyon,” he added.

(When Henry Alcantara testified, he mentioned my name but said that I had no transaction, no transaction at all.)

In his testimony before the Senate, dismissed Bulacan first district engineer Henry Alcantara said he identified Estrada as a proponent for P355 million worth of Phase 3 of seven pumping stations with floodgates at the request of former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.

However, he said that he had no direct transactions with Estrada.

‘Double, triple hearsay’

Estrada, meanwhile, said that Bernardo made no mention of him.

“So double hearsay, triple hearsay itong ginagawa sa akin,” he said.

(So this being done to me is double hearsay, even triple hearsay.)

“Talagang gusto nila ako sirain sa publiko dahil I’m the most vulnerable amongst the senators dahil sa aking issue nung nakaraan,” he added.

(They really want to destroy me to the public because I’m the most vulnerable among the senators due to my past issue.)

Though he did not specify the issue he is referring to, the Sandiganbayan acquitted Estrada of plunder and found him guilty of bribery last year in connection with his alleged involvement in the multi-billion peso pork barrel scam.

Estrada previously challenged Hernandez to take a lie detector test with him before the public as he denied the accusations.

Estrada and Villanueva have since denied the allegations against them. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News