Marilyn Cahatol

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)

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175852976543720250909-house-probe-flood-brice-hernandez-MT1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="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 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. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson will cancel the legislative immunity of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez if he fails to surrender his computer to the Senate as evidence in the ongoing flood control investigation.</p><p>According to Lacson, Hernandez was supposed to surrender the computer when he went home last Saturday to gather evidence but suddenly changed his mind.</p><p>“Initially hawak na ng OSAA (Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms) kasi eh pero all of a sudden si Brice Hernandez parang nagbago ng isip, ‘Teka muna, magtanong muna ako sa lawyer,’” Lacson said on Monday after he met with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to discuss his privilege speeches on the flood control mess.</p><p>“So na-hold doon. So ginawa ng OSAA sineal na lang nila para hindi ma-tamper,” he added.</p><p>Lacson does not know Hernandez’s reason.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/19/ex-dpwh-engineer-hernandez-tells-all-surrenders-luxury-vehicle-2146">Ex-DPWH engineer Hernandez ‘tells all’, surrenders luxury vehicle</a></div><p>He said he only found out on Sunday night that the computer was left behind so he ordered Hernandez to bring it to the Senate.</p><p>“I gave them until 12 o&#x27;clock noon time today, sabi ko sa Sergeant-At-Arms, you tell Hernandez and the lawyer na hanggang 12 pag hindi sila bumalik doon, I will cancel the legislative immunity na binigay sa kanya. And we will not recommend him to be admitted into the Witness Protection Program,” Lacson explained.</p><p>He said he will have to check if Hernandez left the Senate today.              </p><p>According to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Hernandez was allowed to leave the detention facility on Monday “to retrieve what was left.”</p><p>But Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca said they were not able to go; he thinks Hernandez changed his mind based on the advice of his lawyers.</p><p>Lacson said he sees no conflict if the ICI takes possession of Hernandez’s computer. </p><p>“No conflict with ICI as to who can take possession of Hernandez’s computer. After all, I’ve been very consistent in saying that anything of evidentiary value, we will turn over to the ICI,” Lacson said in a message. </p><p>Meanwhile, Lacson also confirmed that some personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) also went to Hernandez’s house on Saturday, but he did not know why they were there.</p><p>“Biglang may sumunod na CIDG. So I questioned. Sabi ko this is an entirely Senate operation. And this was done upon the request of the person himself. So we didn&#x27;t need any search warrant kasi voluntary,” Lacson said.</p><p>He assured that nothing was taken by the CIDG because OSAA personnel were at Hernandez’s house as well.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/9/18/brice-hernandez-says-dpwh-engineers-shared-profits-from-ghost-projects-1325">Brice Hernandez says DPWH engineers &#x27;shared&#x27; profits from ghost projects</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>DESTROYING, TAMPERING OF DOCUMENTS?</strong></div><p>In a statement, ICI Chairman retired Justice Andres Reyes, Jr. condemned reports of “widespread destruction and tampering of official documents by personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in connection with anomalous flood control projects.”</p><p>“Such acts constitute not only a blatant obstruction of ongoing investigations but also a direct assault on the public&#x27;s right to transparency and accountability. The deliberate concealment or alteration of records undermines the rule of law and weakens the people&#x27;s trust in government institutions tasked to safeguard public resources,” the statement read.</p><p>The ICI reiterated—all records relating to public works are public property.</p><p>“Any attempt to destroy, falsify, or conceal them is a grave offense that carries both administrative and criminal liability. The Commission calls upon all DPWH officials and employees to fully cooperate and preserve the integrity of all documents and evidence under their custody,” Reyes said in the statement.</p><p>Lacson called the supposed tampering and destroying of official documents that may be used in the investigation as “criminal.”</p><p>“That’s criminal. Kasi these are official records,” Lacson remarked. “When you destroy, you’re destroying the records para hindi ma-trace yung kalokohan nila, yung corruption.”</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/11/brice-hernandez-seeks-court-protection-amid-serious-and-active-threats-1156">Brice Hernandez camp files writ of amparo plea amid &#x27;serious and active threats&#x27;</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N1u7ngd8E4E?si=3p_VdGjx2Y0wah6q" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson will cancel the legislative immunity of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez if he fails to surrender his computer to the Senate as evidence in the ongoing flood control investigation.</p>

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson will cancel the legislative immunity of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez if he fails to surrender his computer to the Senate as evidence in the ongoing flood control investigation.

Lacson to cancel Brice Hernandez’s legislative immunity if he does not surrender computer

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Lacson to cancel Brice Hernandez’s legislative immunity if he does not surrender computer

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 22, 2025 04:35 PM PHT

|

Updated September 22, 2025 08:40 PM PHT

Read More:

ping lacson

ici

brice hernandez

flood control projects

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