Ched Rick Gatchalian

Bulacan Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez attends the congressional hearing on the alleged ghost flood control projects at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

 

Article (news)

Ombudsman says Brice Hernandez no longer seeks to be state witness

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17612858432901759904510139175756294681620250909-house-probe-flood-brice-hernandez-MT2.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Bulacan Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez attends the congressional hearing on the alleged ghost flood control projects at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><p>MANILA — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed on Friday that former Bulacan assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez was no longer seeking to be a state witness, but he would be given special consideration as a &quot;cooperative witness.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Hindi niya na pinipilit yung state witness kasi nakita naman nila na ang hirap gawin yun na magbigay ng blanket immunity lalo na sa ghost project... Open shot case yan eh. Whether or not they cooperate, maku-convict naman sila talaga dyan, di ba? Hindi mo naman kailangan na state witness doon kung tutuusin eh,&quot; Remulla said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/24/ex-dpwh-engineers-alcantara-hernandez-mendoza-face-ici-1059">Ex-DPWH engineers Alcantara, Hernandez, Mendoza face ICI</a></div><p>Despite this, Hernandez remains a &quot;cooperative witness&quot;, the official said.</p><p>&quot;Kasi nga cooperative witness yan, syempre bibigyan natin ng special consideration with the permission of the court. Kasi lahat po yan, sinasangguni natin sa korte,&quot; he said. </p><p>Remulla confirmed Hernandez and former Bulacan engineer Henry Alcantara have faced investigators of the Office of the Ombudsman.</p><p>Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano earlier told media that Hernandez was at the Ombudsman on Thursday, while Alcantara faced the investigators on Friday.</p><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p6jKjcLgydE" title="Brice Hernandez submits &#x27;tell-all&#x27; affidavit in DOJ meeting: lawyer | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m6wmiq5Awpk" title="Brice Hernandez, nagsalita sa hatian sa &#x27;ghost projects&#x27;; nanghingi ng proteksyon | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed on Friday that former Bulacan assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez was no longer seeking to be a state witness, but he would be given consideration as he is a "cooperative witness."</p>

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed on Friday that former Bulacan assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez was no longer seeking to be a state witness, but he would be given consideration as he is a "cooperative witness."