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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Wag niyo na ako ibalik': Estrada, Villanueva linked to flood control projects mess by Senate witness cited for contempt

'Wag niyo na ako ibalik': Estrada, Villanueva linked to flood control projects mess by Senate witness cited for contempt

Published Sep 9, 2025 12:46 pm  |  Updated Sep 9, 2025 01:18 pm

At A Glance

  • DPWH assistant engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez implicated Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva in alleged anomalous flood control projects during the continuation of the House Infrastructure Committee (infra comm) inquiry Tuesday, Sept. 9.
Senators Jinggoy Estrada (left) and Joel Villanueva (Facebook)
Senators Jinggoy Estrada (left) and Joel Villanueva (Facebook)


Can you please not return me to the Senate?
Following these words, former DPWH assistant engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez implicated Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva in alleged anomalous flood control projects during the continuation of the House Infrastructure Committee (infra comm) inquiry Tuesday, Sept. 9.
A day earlier, Hernandez was cited for contempt by the Senate Ribbon Committee and slapped with a detention order during a probe on a similar topic. He was escorted to Batasan for the scheduled Infra comm hearing Tuesday.
“Pwede ho bang ‘wag niyo na po ako ibalik sa Senate, your honor, kasi may mga involved pong senador dito at hindi ko po alam ang magiging kapalaran ko kung ibalik niyo ako doon,” Hernandez told the joint House panel chaired by Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon.
(Can you please not return me to the Senate anymore, your honor, because there are senators involved here and I'm unsure of my future if you retun me there.)
Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., the solon interpellating Hernandez at that time, assured the resource person that he would be duly protected for as long as he tells the truth in the inquiry on the flood control projects mess.
"You will be protected by this committee as long as you will say the truth,” Garbin told then dismissed assistant engineer from Bulacan.
Ridon then allowed Hernandez--who was still visibly uneasy--to read a handwritten note he executed and signed during his incarceration at the Senate.
“Habang ako po ay naka-detain, nakapag-isip po ako at nagdesisyon na maglabas ng ilang nalalaman ko sa flood control project base po sa aking matatandaan sa ngayon (While I was detained, I was able to think and made the decision to reveal some things I know about the flood control projects based on what I can remember right now)," Hernandez said.
"Sabi ni Senator [Rodante] Marcoleta kahapon, ‘Ligtas ka na.' Hindi po ito totoo. Si Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Senator Joel Villanueva, Undersecretary Robert Bernardo, at DE (District Engineer) (Henry) Alcantara. Si Senator Jinggoy po ay nagbaba ng P355 million ngayong 2025 sa mga ilang projects sa Bulacan. At ang sabi po ng boss ko dito, ay 30 percent ang commitment dito," he said.
(Senator Marcoleta said yesterday, 'You're saved.' This isn't true. They are Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Senator Joel Villanueva, Undersecretary Robert Bernardo, and DE Alcantara. Senator Jinggoy sent down P355 million for some projects in Bulacan this year. And my boss said the commitment here is 30 percent.)
The "boss" Hernandez was referring to was Alcantara, the local district engineer. He said Alcantara called the shots as to the "SOP" or commission.
"Noong 2023 naman, naglabas ng P600 million si Senator Joel Villanueva at ang SOP nito ay 30 percent din (And in 2023, Senator Joel Villanueva released P600 million and the SOP here was also 30 percent)," Hernandez told the infra comm.
Hernandez upon Ridon's prodding, also identified the many involved flood control projects. These were located in Hagonoy, Malolos, Calumpit, Bocaue, and Balagtas--all in Bulacan.
"We need to the specific line item in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) to be able to tie these particular projects to political personalities, not DPWH engineers, not just contractors," Ridon said.
Alcantara also attended Tuesday's infra comm hearing, the second held for the particular inquiry.
Hernandez admitted to the House members his fear for even appearing in the proceedings. "Natatakot din po ako sa buhay ko at sa pamilya ko kasi hindi naman po birong tao ‘yung mga taong involved dito (I also fear for my life and that of my family's because the people involved here are important people)."
Ridon reiterated the House's commitment to ensure his safety "for as long as needed".
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