Estrada, Villanueva deny kickback allegations in flood control projects

Assistant engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez implicated Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva in anomalous flood control projects, claiming they received 30% "SOP" or kickbacks.

Hernandez alleged that Estrada channeled P355 million worth of projects to Hagonoy and Malolos in 2025, with a 30% kickback, naming DPWH drivers Christian Santiago and Andrei Balatbat as Estrada's point persons.

For Villanueva, Hernandez claimed that in 2023 the senator released P600 million worth of projects in Balagtas, Bulacan, also with a 30% cut, with funds allegedly delivered by construction section chief Jaypee Mendoza and former district engineer Henry Alcantara.

Hernandez confirmed that Syms Construction Trading general manager Sally Santos delivered over P1 billion worth of cash in boxes to his office since 2022, which were collected under the direction of Henry Alcantara.

Hernandez stated that while he did not handle the funds himself, Alcantara, as former district engineer, directed the collection of these boxes of cash.

Both Senators Estrada and Villanueva have strongly refuted Hernandez's claims.

Senator Estrada challenged Hernandez to a lie detector test and vowed to hold him accountable for perjury.

Senator Villanueva used his privilege speech to deny the accusations and noted that he had previously raised concerns about ineffective flood control projects in Bulacan.