NBI arrests Hernandez, Mendoza at Senate

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday evening served arrest warrants against former Bulacan first district engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza at the Senate.

The two were arrested while they were attending a hearing of the Blue Ribbon committee in the Senate, where they have been detained since last year after being cited for contempt by senators.

NBI agents escorting the two individuals left the Senate premises past 8 p.m. They were reportedly brought to the NBI office in Pasay City.

At 7:47 p.m., after the blue ribbon committee suspended its hearing, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III confirmed to the media that he authorized the NBI’s arrest of Hernandez and Mendoza. 

“Yes. The warrants are being served as we speak. I’m authorizing it. Sen. Lacson knows already,” Sotto said. 

Hernandez was cited in contempt by the blue ribbon panel on September 8, 2025, while Mendoza was cited in contempt on September 18, 2025.

The duo's arrests came after the Sandiganbayan Third Division issued a warrant of arrest and a hold departure order against former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and six others facing malversation charges in connection with the alleged P92.8 million ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.

Aside from Revilla, Hernandez and Mendoza, other respondents in the case include:

• Former DPWH Bulacan First DEO Engr. Arjay Domasig
• Former DPWH Bulacan First DEO Engr. Emelita Juat
• Former DPWH Bulacan First DEO finance section chief Juanito Mendoza
• DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office cashier Christina Pineda

Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon earlier said that Hernandez and Mendoza do not qualify as state witnesses based on the evidence submitted in the malversation and graft charges in connection with the anomalous flood control project in the province. —MCG/RF, GMA Integrated News