Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><iframe width="1326" height="746" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qc-3oe0I1XY" title="LIVE: House infra comm probes into anomalous flood control projects | September 9" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>MANILA (UPDATED) — Former Bulacan First District Assistant Engineer Brice Hernandez on Tuesday accused Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva of receiving kickbacks in flood control projects. </p><p>Hernandez alleged that some DPWH engineers have become &quot;legmen&quot; or &quot;bagmen&quot; for politicians. </p><p>“Kung tatanungin nyo po ako kung sino o kanino kami naging bagman…sabi ni Senator Marcoleta kahapon, ‘Ligtas ka na.’ Hindi po ito totoo,” Hernandez told a House inquiry.</p><p>“Si Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Senator Joel Villanueva, [DPWH] Usec. Robert Bernardo at DE (District Engineer Henry) Alcantara,” he added.</p><p>He accused Estrada and Villanueva of receiving &quot;commitments&quot; equal to about 30 percent of the project cost for some floodgates and pumping stations in Bulacan. </p><p>&quot;Si Senator Jinggoy po ay nagbaba ng P350 million ngayong 2025 sa ilang projects sa Bulacan... Ang kanyang SOP dito ay 30 percent, as per our district engineer Henry Alcantara. Diniliver ito noong lumabas ang mga item na ito sa GAA (General Appropriations Act),&quot; Hernandez said. </p><p>&quot;Noong 2023 naman, naglabas ng P600 million si Senator Joel Villanueva at ang SOP nito ay 30 percent din… Binigay din ito nang lumabas sa GAA at idiniliver sa bahay niya sa Bocaue ni DE Alcantara at dating hepe ng aming contruction, si Engineer JP Mendoza,&quot; he continued. </p><p>He dubbed Alcantara as the &quot;chief implementor&quot; who allegedly talks to politicians in the alleged scheme. Hernandez accused his former boss of receiving 3 percent of project costs.</p><p>“Pinapasabi pa nga sa amin sa mga contractor na kung gusto n’yong magkaroon ng maraming project sa susunod, magbigay kayo ng additional 2 percent sa kanya, parang finder’s fee daw,&quot; he said. </p><div><iframe width="1250" height="703" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GReFwlYf_8c" title="FULL: Jinggoy, Joel idinawit ni Brice Hernandez sa maanomalyang flood control projects" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;TALK IS CHEAP&#x27;</strong><strong> </strong></div><p>Estrada said he &quot;categorically and vehemently&quot; denies the claims made by Hernandez. </p><p>&quot;I challenge him. LET US TAKE A LIE DETECTOR TEST before the public para malaman ng lahat kung sino ang nagsasabi ng totoo. Talk is cheap — handa akong patunayan na pawang mga kasinungalingan ang sinasabi nya tungkol sa akin,&quot; he said in a statement. </p><p>Villanueva, who also denied the allegations, linked the House of Representatives to the controversy.</p><p>&quot;In the same year, kanina sa Kamara sinasabi in the same year may program daw po si Joel Villanueva, wala pong maverify, wala pong ebidensya. Wala pong resibo. Pero patuloy po itong tinatanong.&quot; Villanueva said, &quot;Mr. President, hinahanap pa ba natin ang mastermind? Dito rin po sa bulwagang ito unang nasabi yung binabanggit kahapon ni  Senate President Escudero a name that cannot be mentioned. Walang iba kundi si Dracula na ginawang tagapagbantay ng Kamara doon po sa national blood bank natin,&quot; he alleged.</p><p>Villanueva added that he is not afraid of a &quot;demolition job&quot;.</p><p>Alcantara also denied receiving kickbacks or delivering money to politicians.</p><p>&quot;Hindi po totoo ‘yan na ako’y nagdedeliver sa mga politiko. Si Senator Joel, 2023, wala pong project na flood control si Senator Joel ever since,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;At sino po ang makakaalam sino pong naglalagay d’yan [sa budget]. We are not part of the bicam, wala po kaming alam d’yan… We are not even involved during budget hearings.&quot;</p><p>Alcantara added that he had no personal relationship with Estrada, despite previously working in the local government of Manila, where the senator&#x27;s father, former President Erap Estrada, was a mayor. </p><p>&quot;Hindi ko po siya kaibigan, hindi po ako nakakalapit sa kanya, hindi po ako nakakapunta sa kanila, maliban po noong akong naging empleyado sa city hall. Trabaho lang po,&quot; he said. </p><div><em></em><em></em><br/></div>

<p>Bulacan First District Assistant Engineer Brice Hernandez on Tuesday tagged Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva in alleged anomalies in flood control projects.</p>

Bulacan First District Assistant Engineer Brice Hernandez on Tuesday tagged Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva in alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

Ex-DPWH engineer tags Estrada, Villanueva in flood control anomalies; senators deny allegations

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Ex-DPWH engineer tags Estrada, Villanueva in flood control anomalies; senators deny allegations

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News,

Published September 09, 2025 10:55 AM PHT

|

Updated September 09, 2025 06:23 PM PHT

Read More:

corruption

flood

flood control

baha

DPWH

Brice Hernandez

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.