Ombudsman: Brice Hernandez no longer asking to be a state witness

Former Bulacan 1st district assistant engineer Brice Hernandez is no longer insisting on becoming a state witness as he is considered a “cooperative witness,” Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Friday. 

Hernandez went to the Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday as part of its fact-finding investigation into the anomalous flood control projects.

“Ano siya eh, cooperative witness siya eh. Hindi na niya pinipilit ‘yung state witness kasi nakita naman nila na ang hirap gawin ‘yun, na magbigay ng blanket immunity sa, lalo na sa ghost project, mahirap man magbigay ng blanket immunity,” the Ombudsman said.

(He is a cooperative witness. He is no longer insisting on becoming a state witness because they have seen that it is difficult to give blanket immunity, especially if it involves ghost projects.) 

“Open and shut case, yan, eh. Whether or not they cooperate, mako-convict naman sila talaga diyan, diba? Hindi mo naman kailangan ng state witness kung tutuusin,” he added. 

(That's an open and shut case—whether or not they cooperate, they will be convicted, right? You actually don't need to become a state witness.) 

Remulla assured that Hernandez will be given “special consideration” upon coordination with the court.  

“Siyempre, bibigyan natin ng special consideration with the permission of the court. Kasi lahat po ‘yan, sinasangguni natin sa court,” he said.

(Of course, we will give him special consideration with the permission of the court. Because we refer all of these to the court.) 

Hernandez, who implicated several lawmakers in the flood control mess, has been seeking to be considered a state witness in the investigation. 

This came after the Department of Justice (DOJ) 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 controversy. —NB, GMA Integrated News