The Senate Blue Ribbon committee will push for criminal charges against Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada should documentary proof show they profited from alleged flood control budget insertions, Senate President Pro Tempore and committee chair Panfilo Lacson said. The report came through One News.
Lacson confirmed that dismissed Bulacan district engineer Brice Hernandez returned to the Senate on Saturday evening carrying boxes of files and a computer, which he claims could support his accusations against the two lawmakers and other officials. The materials have been secured and will undergo proper handling before presentation.
“If Brice won’t be able to produce evidence, in fairness to Sen. Jinggoy and Villanueva, it’s only fair to say that there’s no proof,” Lacson remarked, stressing that accusations must be backed by verifiable documents.
He added that two elements were already on record: Hernandez’s testimony before the House of Representatives and the validation of multiple projects tied to the senators in the general appropriations law—eight for Villanueva and seven for Estrada. Still, Lacson maintained that hard proof directly linking them to the insertions is necessary.
The Senate leader also pointed to reported insertions amounting to P355 million under Estrada and P600 million under Villanueva, though he noted it remains unclear whether the senators personally orchestrated these allocations. “If Brice has proof, that’s a different matter – that will merit a criminal case,” Lacson said.
The panel is set to resume its hearing on Tuesday, where Hernandez’s evidence may be presented. Among the allegations to be reviewed are his claims that former lawmaker and ex–social welfare official Mitch Cajayon-Uy received kickbacks from ghost projects in Bulacan.
Meanwhile, Lacson underscored that contractors and engineers seeking protection under the Witness Protection Program must demonstrate sincerity. He said restitution—such as completing unfinished projects at their own expense—could show good faith, echoing Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla’s position.
Blue Ribbon vice chair Sen. Erwin Tulfo, for his part, urged contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya and former district engineer Henry Alcantara to fully disclose what they know, either before the committee or the Independent Commission for Infrastructure. Tulfo said the information gathered so far was enough to lay the foundation for strong cases.
