Contractors involved in the anomalous flood control projects were able to collect millions worth of payment in as short as three months from the start of their infrastructure project, Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson bared Monday, Sept. 22.

Lacson, in an interview, disclosed some information on how district engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and contractors collude in such projects.

He also shared that there were "twin" infrastructure projects that received different payments.

Lacson, who first blew the lid off of anomalies in flood control projects in a privilege speech, said documents proving these anomalies were contained in the folder he submitted to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Monday.

"Yung mga tiga district engineering office... nag-mamanufacture, tinatamper nila yung mga documents para makasingil (Those from the district engineering office were manufacturing and tampering with the official documents to be able to solicit payments)," he told reporters.

One case he cited as an example was a supposed Notice of Award that a DPWH office issued on Dec. 17.

"Tapos yung (Then there's already a) Notice to Proceed, the following day. After two days, nagpo-progress bidding, naniningil na ng 40 percent (there's already a progress bidding. They're asking for a 40 percent advance payment)," he said.

"Tapos after seven days, nakasingil na ng 46 percent (After seven days, they've already collected 46 percent of the total payment), I think P42 million, and then another, two, three months, naka 89 percent. And March 9, or another five days, nakasingil na ng buo (the payment was completed)," he added.

"So how could be that physically possible? That's only one case."

Lacson said he also discovered "twin" projects or two projects that had the same dates for the notices of award and proceed.

"Ganoon ka-brazen. Wala ng regard baka mahalata tayo (That's how brazen they were. They have no regard if they're being obvious)," he said.

"So over confident na lahat, para kaya nilang bayaran (So they're over confident as they believed they could pay anyone)," he added.

Meanwhile, Lacson said the submission of evidence on the anomalies linked to DPWH Bulacan First District Assistant Engineer Brice Hernandez was delayed.

Lacson, chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that requested Hernandez' evidence on the anomalous flood control projects, said the Senate was about to unseal on Monday additional evidence coming from Hernandez' computer.

But the latter eventually refused to turn over his computer to the Senate's Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms (OSAA), and said he would need to consult first with his lawyer.

"Wala palang nadalang computer. Naiwan pala doon. Nagkaroon ng pagbago ng isip (So no computer was really brought. It was left because Hernandez changed his mind)," he said.

Earlier cited for contempt by the Blue Ribbon panel, Hernandez was granted a 12-hour leave to secure evidence on his own.

Lacson warned that he might cancel Hernandez' legislative immunity if he continued with his refusal to coordinate with the Senate.