Ex-DPWH engineer implicates Estrada, Villanueva in P1B flood control kickbacks

Former DPWH assistant engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez accused Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva of involvement in anomalous flood control projects, alleging they received 30% kickbacks.

Hernandez claimed Estrada allocated P355 million for projects in Hagonoy and Malolos in 2025, with DPWH drivers Christian Santiago and Andrei Balatbat as his point persons, under former district engineer Henry Alcantara.

For Villanueva, Hernandez alleged that in 2023, P600 million worth of projects in Balagtas, Bulacan were released with a 30% cut, with funds reportedly delivered to the senator's residence by construction section chief Jaypee Mendoza and Alcantara.

Hernandez stated that Alcantara acted as the "chief implementor," taking a 3% commission and instructing engineers to inform contractors of an additional 2% "finder's fee" for more projects.

The former assistant district engineer also 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 Alcantara's directive.

Hernandez has been dismissed from the DPWH due to irregularities in flood control projects in Bulacan and expressed concerns for his safety.

Both Estrada and Villanueva have strongly refuted Hernandez's claims, with Estrada challenging the accuser to a lie detector test and threatening legal action for perjury.

Villanueva stated that he had previously raised concerns about ineffective flood control projects in Bulacan.

Hernandez testified before a House of Representatives hearing on Tuesday, where he reiterated his accusations of senators benefitting from questionable flood mitigation projects.

He was previously cited in contempt and detained at the Senate on Monday for allegedly lying during his testimony before a Senate committee investigating dubious flood control projects.