Brice Hernandez out to prove lawmakers’ kickbacks

Metro Manila, Philippines - Former government engineer Brice Hernandez will be escorted by Senate security on Saturday, Sept. 20, to gather evidence against lawmakers he accused of receiving kickbacks from flood control projects.

Hernandez has been granted a temporary pass from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson confirmed on Friday, Sept. 19.

Sotto assured Hernandez, the former Department of Public Works and Highways-Bulacan assistant district engineer at the center of the flood control corruption scandal, of tight security.

“Man to man guarding even sa kwarto, to locate documents he needs to show. Balik Senate by 6 pm,” Sotto said in a text message.

[Man-to-man guarding, even inside the room, to locate documents he needs to show. He must return to the Senate by 6 p.m.]

Lacson, chairman of the blue ribbon Committee, formally requested Sotto to allow Hernandez to leave Senate detention for evidence gathering. He clarified that Hernandez remains under contempt for allegedly lying in earlier hearings.

“Hindi aalisin ang contempt. Humingi siya ng - nagpaalam siya kung pwedeng amkalabas siya para maghalungkat ng ebidensya pang sinasabi niyang pwede niyang mahanap,” Lacson said in a phone interview.

During Thursday’s hearing, an emotional Hernandez admitted involvement in the anomalies and promised to return what he had gained. But he also admitted he has yet to produce solid proof against lawmakers.

Hernandez replied: “Wala pa lang po akong hawak na matibay na ebidensya para makapagturo po. Ayoko pong magturo nang dahil gusto ko lang.”

Hernandez earlier alleged that Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva were behind the P355 million and P600 million budget insertions for Bulacan flood control projects, respectively, claiming they each took 30 percent in kickbacks. Both senators have denied the allegations.

Lacson said these will remain mere accusations unless Hernandez can provide proof.

In a social media post, he added that the two senators are not yet cleared: “By any measure, Senators Villanueva and Estrada have not been cleared, at least on the issue of budget insertions involving infrastructure projects in Bulacan worth P600M and P355M respectively, as alleged by Engr Brice Hernandez.”