Former Bulacan First District Assistant Engineer Brice Hernandez on Tuesday implicated Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva in alleged kickback schemes tied to flood control projects in the province.
At a House inquiry, Hernandez said some Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineers had acted as “legmen” or “bagmen” for politicians. “Kung tatanungin nyo po ako kung sino o kanino kami naging bagman… sabi ni Senator Marcoleta kahapon, ‘Ligtas ka na.’ Hindi po ito totoo,” he said before naming Estrada, Villanueva, DPWH Undersecretary Robert Bernardo, and District Engineer Henry Alcantara.
According to Hernandez, Estrada allegedly allocated ₱350 million for projects in 2025, with a supposed 30 percent share delivered once the items were released in the General Appropriations Act (GAA). Villanueva, he added, allegedly funneled ₱600 million in 2023 with a similar arrangement, claiming the funds were delivered to his residence in Bocaue.
Hernandez branded Alcantara as the “chief implementor” of the scheme, accusing him of pocketing 3 percent of project costs and soliciting an additional 2 percent “finder’s fee” from contractors for future projects.
Estrada, however, strongly denied the allegations. “I challenge him. LET US TAKE A LIE DETECTOR TEST before the public para malaman ng lahat kung sino ang nagsasabi ng totoo. Talk is cheap — handa akong patunayan na pawang mga kasinungalingan ang sinasabi nya tungkol sa akin,” he said in a statement.
Villanueva has yet to issue a response at the time of reporting.
