Ex-DPWH engineer off to Pasay jail as minority senators protest House-backed Crame detention

Metro Manila, Philippines - Brice Hernandez, the controversial former government engineer at the center of the flood control corruption scandal, will now be detained at the Pasay city jail after minority senators protested his detention in Camp Crame instead of the Senate.

Hernandez was cited in contempt by the Senate blue ribbon committee on Monday for allegedly lying during its investigation. He was initially detained at the Senate.

On Tuesday, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III allowed Hernandez to appear before the House of Representatives for a similar probe. That evening, Sotto said House Speaker Martin Romualdez called him to relay Hernandez’ request not to return to Senate custody, citing fears for his life after implicating several senators.

A compromise was reached: Hernandez would be held at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame but remain under the custody of the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms.

However, during Wednesday’s plenary session, Sept. 10, Sen. Rodante Marcoleta - who chaired the blue ribbon when Hernandez was cited in contempt - moved for his immediate return to Senate custody.

“I will reject the idea that if he returns in the Senate, manganganib ang buhay niya. It is as if that we're giving credence to his statement which I believe is not true,” he said.

[Translation: I reject the idea that his life would be in danger if he returned to the Senate. That would imply his claims are credible, which I believe is not true.]

Sotto clarified that the Senate retains legal custody over Hernandez.

Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, however, said the issue goes beyond physical or legal custody.

“The issue also is the integrity of the Senate, the perception that if we don’t have him here, de lahat na lang ng witnesses sasabihin eh wag tayo dun [then our witnesses will say not at the Senate],” Cayetano said.

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, former PNP chief, fumed over the call made by Romualdez, claiming it is the House with a record of trying to sway resource persons.

“Hindi natin sila dapat sundin kung anong kagustuhan nila [We should not follow whatr they like]. We have to stand on our own,” Dela Rosa said.

Tensions escalated when Marcoleta argued that, as then blue ribbon chairman, he should have been consulted on the matter. Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri abruptly suspended the session amid the heated exchange with Sotto.

After a closed-door meeting, senators returned to the floor. Senator Jinggoy Estrada then moved to transfer Hernandez to the Pasay city jail - a motion that was adopted.