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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Hernandez testimony yields 'better leads' for ICI, but Magalong won't mention names

Hernandez testimony yields 'better leads' for ICI, but Magalong won't mention names

Published Sep 19, 2025 07:11 pm

At A Glance

  • The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) gained a lot of "better leads" from its interview with former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assistant engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez on Friday, Sept. 19, ICI Special Adviser Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said.
ICI Special Adviser and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
ICI Special Adviser and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) gained a lot of "better leads" from its interview with former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assistant engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez on Friday, Sept. 19, ICI Special Adviser Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said.
In a press briefing at the ICI headquarters in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig City, Magalong said that Hernandez gave them several new names to work with, although the official kept the details close to his chest.
"Ang masasabi ko lang is marami pa siyang nabanggit na mga hindi nabanggit...Marami siyang nasabi sa amin na detalye pa na hindi nabanggit aa ibang forum (What I can say is he mentioned a lot of new things...He mentioned a lot of details that haven't been shared in other forums)," Magalong said.
"Ma-detalye (It's full of details), very relevant, very sensitive information. Magandang lead ito para sa imbestigasyon (This is a good lead for the investigation)," the special adviser further described the testimony.
Asked if Hernandez linked more politicians to the anomalous or "ghost" flood mitigation projects, Magalong said: "Basta mas marami kaming mas magagandang lead pa (Let's juat say we have a lot of better leads)."
Magalong affirmed ICI Chairman retired Supreme Court (SC) Justice Andres Reyes Jr.'s statement earlier in the day that Hernandez was "very cooperative".
In turn, the ICI explained to Hernandez the consequences of him doing so. "He would like to cooperate," Magalong said.
"Inexplain namin sa kanya kung ano yung mga pros and cons ng gagawin niya. Inexplain naming mabuti kung ano yung mga choices niya (We explained to him the pros and cons of what he was planning to do. We carefully explained what his options were), and then finally he realized [that it's] better to cooperate with us sa ICI. Kaya talagang very free-flowing yung information na binitawan niya (That’s why the information he shared was very free-flowing)," he explained.
But he said that the ICI's investigation will determine whether or not the witness' claims can be corroborated by evidence.
At any rate, Magalong expressed utter disbelief over the scale of corruption when it comes to government projects.
"It's all over the place eh, it's all over the country. Sa dami ng mga natatanggap namin, talagang I know it is widespread, pero hindi ko naisip na ganun pala ka-massive, ganun pala kalalim, ganun pala katindi yung corruption sa flood control projects. Pero hindi lang flood control projects. Nagulat din ako sa mga revelation na matindi pa pala rin sa ibang mga proyekto.
(With the volume of reports we’ve been receiving, I knew it was widespread, but I didn’t realize just how massive, how deep, and how severe the corruption in flood control projects really is. And it’s not just flood control projects. I was also shocked by revelations that corruption is just as intense in other projects.)
Magalong said the ICI will be holding hearings "almost every day". Asked if it would be open to the public, he said he would leave it to the discretion of the chairman.
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