Hernandez, Mendoza 'hopeful' they will be considered as state witnesses

Former Bulacan first district assistant engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza are hopeful that they can be considered state witnesses in the investigation of the anomalous flood control projects.

This came after the Department of Justice referred to the Office of Ombudsman its recommendations to file several charges against Department of Public Works and Highways officials of the Bulacan First District Engineering Office and contractors involved in the anomalous flood control projects.

“We are hopeful that the DOJ will recognize that Brice and Jaypee’s testimonies are essential and that they can be considered state witnesses to ensure convictions of top officials behind these anomalies,” Atty. Ernest Levanza, lawyer of Hernandez and Mendoza, said in a “24 Oras” report on Wednesday.

The DOJ on Tuesday referred to the Office of the Ombudsman its recommendation to file graft, malversation, perjury and falsification of public documents charges against Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials of the Bulacan First District Engineering Office and contractors involved in five flood control projects.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, who oversaw the case build-up as the former DOJ secretary, received the referral in the Ombudsman’s office. 

“Low hanging fruits ito. Open and shut cases. Ghost e. May lumabas na pera, may tumanggap ng pera, [pero] walang proyekto,” Remulla said. 

(These are low hanging fruits. Open and shut cases. Ghost [projects]. Money went out and someone received it but there was no project.)

“Ang tingin ko rito, mabibilisan natin ito. Wala nang atrasan ito. These are signed affidavits. The evaluation [of this referral] should take 10 to 15 [working] days....[that] would be sufficient to do it, but preliminary investigation would be longer,” Remulla added.

(From what I see, we can fast-track this. No stepping back.)

Aside from Hernandez and Alcantara, those the DOJ prosecutors recommended to be charged include:

• former DPWH Bulacan 1st District district engineer Henry Alcantara
• former DPWH Bulacan 1st District assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez
• former DPWH Bulacan 1st District assistant district engineer Jaypee Mendoza
•  DPWH Bulacan 1st District Project Engineer Niño Lawrence Morales
• DPWH Bulacan 1st District  Chief Accountant Juanito Mendoza
• DPWH Bids and Awards Committee member Florayn Simbulan
• DPWH Cashier II Christina Mae Pineda and
• contractor Sally Santos of SYMS Construction.

Remulla said the DOJ referral on Tuesday, October 14, only covered those government officials who are below Salary Grade 27.

This means that the first slew of cases will only be filed before regional trial courts, not the Sandiganbayan, which handles cases against government officials who fall under Salary Grade 27 and above. –Mariel Celine Serquiña/NB, GMA Integrated News