Ex-DPWH official links Estrada, Villanueva in Bulacan flood control scandal

Metro Manila, Philippines - Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez implicated Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva in supposed irregular infrastructure projects in the province.

Hernandez made the claim during a joint panel hearing at the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

He was detained in Senate premises on Monday for supposedly lying in the Blue Ribbon Committee’s flood control probe inquiry. He requested House lawmakers to be removed from the Senate’s watch due to fear for his safety.

“Pwede po bang huwag niyo na 'ko ibalik sa Senate dahil may mga involved pong senador dito at hindi ko po alam ano magiging kapalaran ko ‘pag binalik niyo ko du’n,” he said.

“Kung tatanungin n’yo po ako kung sino o kanino kami naging bagman, sasagutin ko na po ngayon… Si Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Senator Joel Villanueva, (Public Works and Highways) Usec. Robert Bernardo at DE (district engineer Henry) Alcantara,” Hernandez exposed.

[Translation: If you ask me to whom we served as a bagman, I’ll answer it now… Senators Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada and Joel Villanueva, Public Works and Highways Usec. Robert Bernardo and district engineer Henry Alcantara.]

Hernandez recalled that Estrada proposed P355 million in projects in Bulacan for this year while Villanueva put in P600 million in 2023.

The former assistant district engineer said the two senators received a 30 percent kickback after the projects were included in the General Appropriations Act while Alcantara got 3 percent.

Alcantara denied the accusation.

“2023, wala pong project na flood control si Senator Joel ever since,” the former district engineer said.

Asked about his connection with Estrada, Alcantara replied: “Hindi ko po siya kaibigan o hindi po ako nakakalapit sa kanya [He is not my friend and I have not been close to him].”

But Hernandez presented photos of Estrada and Alcantara together.

He also showed photos of supposed conversations between him and a certain Beng Ramos, Estrada’s staff.

“This was the time na meron pong project na binigay si boss Henry Alcantara kay Ms. Beng Ramos through Ms. Mina of WJ Construction. So, ‘yun ‘yung ginamit na license or contractor. Nandiyan po ‘yung pag-uusap kung kailan magde-deliver ng obligasyon dahil kailangan ni boss Henry,” Hernandez said.

[Translation: This was the time that boss Henry Alcantara gave a project to Ms. Beng Ramos through Ms. Mina of WJ Construction. They used that license or contractor. The talk on when the obligation would be delivered because boss Henry already needs it.]

Another DPWH engineer, JP Mendoza, showed photos of a conversation between Alcantara and Villanueva about a flood control project.

Estrada and Villanueva likewise denied involvement in anomalous flood control projects.

“I challenge him. LET US TAKE A LIE DETECTOR TEST before the public para malaman ng lahat kung sino ang nagsasabi ng totoo [to know who’s telling the truth],” Estrada said.

“Hindi po tayo natatakot sa mga ganitong uri ng demolition job. Handa rin po tayong madungisan ang ating pangalan, mainsulto o batikusin kung ito naman po ang magliligtas sa ating mga kababayan at tuldok sa unli-baha,” said Villanueva, who hails from Bulacan.

[Translation: We are not afraid of this kind of demolition job. We are also ready for our name to be tainted, be insulted, or criticized if this would save our fellow Filipinos and give an end to the unli-floods.]

The Senate and House agreed to put Hernandez under police custody at the Philippine National Police custodial facility in Camp Crame, Quezon City, while Mendoza will be in protective custody of the House.

NewsWatch Plus correspondent Eimor Santos and multiplatform producer Jelo Ritzhie Mantaring contributed to this report.