Ex-DPWH engineer tags senators in anomalous flood control programs

A FORMER Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer has accused two senators of complicity in anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan province, as Congress continues its parallel probes into a multibillion-peso infrastructure scandal.

At a House of Representatives hearing on Tuesday, former Public Works Assistant District Engineer for Bulacan Brice Ericson Hernandez claimed that Senators Jose “Jinggoy” P. Estrada and Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva had benefitted from questionable flood mitigation projects.

“While I was in detention, I had time to think and decided to reveal some of what I know about the flood control projects,” Mr. Hernandez said in Filipino.

He was cited in contempt and detained at the Senate on Monday after allegedly lying during his testimony before a Senate committee investigating dubious flood control projects. The House and Senate have launched separate inquiries into alleged large-scale corruption involving engineers, contractors and politicians.

Mr. Hernandez alleged that Senator Estrada was linked to P355 million worth of flood control projects in Bulacan this year, while Senator Villanueva was tied to P600 million worth of projects in 2023.

He claimed the lawmakers had received a 30% cut from the projects. “My boss said that the commitment here is 30%,” he said, referring to funds for the construction of flood-mitigating structures in the province’s creeks and rivers.

Mr. Hernandez presented photos showing stacks of P1,000 and P500 bills on tables inside a private residence, which he said represented cash prepared for people involved in the alleged transactions. “We were simply ordered to handle the money, and we made sure to segregate it,” he said, though he did not identify the final recipients.

He also showed a photo of Senator Estrada with Bulacan Chief Engineer Henry C. Alcantara, as well as screenshots of exchanges between Senator Villanueva and Mr. Alcantara.

Mr. Alcantara, however, told lawmakers the messages were unrelated to flood control projects. “As I recall, he was just following up with me about the request to the Secretary — for multipurpose buildings in the villages,” he said in Filipino.

SENATORS PUSH BACK
Both lawmakers strongly denied Mr. Hernandez’s allegations.

“I categorically and vehemently deny the claims made by Brice Hernandez,” Senator Estrada told reporters in a Viber group chat. “I challenge him. Let us take a lie detector test before the public so that everyone will know who is telling the truth.”

“Talk is cheap — I’m ready to prove that what he’s saying about me are all lies.”

He later told reporters he intends to file criminal charges against Mr. Hernandez. “Yes, I will file a case against him, (but) I still need to talk to my lawyers,” he said.

Senator Villanueva also rejected the claims. Speaking during the Senate plenary session, he said: “I will repeat this, I have never been involved in flood control projects. I won’t say that I categorically deny this accusation, because I have receipts.”

He suggested he was drawn into the controversy because of supposed “evidence” provided by DPWH Bulacan employees.

Some lawmakers have called for an independent inquiry. Party-list Representatives Leila M. de Lima, Percival V. Cendana, and Jose Manuel “Chel” I. Diokno, along with District Representatives Arlene J. Bag-ao (Dinagat Islands) and Cielo Krisel B. Lagman (Albay), filed House Bill No. 4453 on Tuesday to create a commission composed of legal experts, auditors, and representatives from business and civil society groups.

“Because in our view, these ongoing investigations — both in the Senate and the House — are very sensitive,” Ms. De Lima told reporters. Congressional probes may face conflicts of interest, given allegations implicating lawmakers themselves, according to the bill’s explanatory note.

Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin earlier said an executive order creating an independent body to investigate the projects had been submitted to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

SENATE CUSTODY DISPUTE
Mr. Hernandez remains under Senate custody despite testifying before the House. Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III said the former DPWH official will be held at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame under the supervision of the Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA).

“To make sure he is safe but still in custody of the Senate, the Speaker and I agreed to place him in the PNP Custodial Center but under the supervision of the Senate OSAA,” Mr. Sotto said.

Mr. Hernandez was earlier cited in contempt at the Senate after denying allegations that he frequented casinos and had won millions of pesos.

The controversy stems from President Marcos’ revelation in August that more than 6,000 flood control projects launched since 2022 lacked key details. About P544 billion has been allocated for flood control since then, with P100 billion cornered by contractors.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said it is introducing “safeguards” in the 2026 budget process to prevent similar anomalies.

“In our budget call for next year, we will already introduce safeguards especially for DPWH. We will separate them, there will be a special book,” Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman told a Senate budget hearing.

She said proposed DPWH projects must now be coordinated with local governments and include detailed engineering designs and work programs. The DBM is also expanding digitalization and exploring artificial intelligence tools to flag irregularities.

DPWH, which has one of the biggest proposed allocations in the 2026 national budget at P881 billion, is under review following concerns raised by Secretary Vivencio “Vince” B. Dizon and Ms. Pangandaman about irregularities in its budget proposal.

The allegations have fueled public outrage, given the persistent flooding in many parts of the country despite massive government spending. The probes are expected to intensify in the coming weeks as both chambers of Congress confront evidence implicating political figures. — KCLB and Adrian H. Halili