Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Engineer Brice Hernandez presents a photo from his cellphone showing Engineer Henry Alcantara with Senator Jinggoy Estrada, along with an image of a pile of money, during a congressional hearing on ghost flood control projects at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Jinggoy

Rowegie Abanto

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/1757401913845viber_image_2025-09-09_13-26-08-499.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Engineer Brice Hernandez presents a photo from his cellphone showing Engineer Henry Alcantara with Senator Jinggoy Estrada, along with an image of a pile of money, during a congressional hearing on 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><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATE)</strong>— Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday threatened to sue former Bulacan First District Assistant Engineer Brice Hernandez, who accused him of receiving kickbacks in flood control projects.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/9/estrada-dares-ex-dpwh-engineer-hernandez-to-take-lie-detector-test-over-corruption-claims-1147">Estrada dares ex-DPWH engineer Hernandez to take lie detector test over corruption claims</a></div><p>In a press conference, Estrada insisted he did not participate in the alleged scheme of getting payoffs from billions of pesos worth of infrastructure projects.</p><p>When asked if he would file a case against Hernandez, he said, &quot;Yes, sasampahan ko ng kaso &#x27;yan. I will talk to my lawyers.&quot; </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QiW7PZwt6W0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>In Tuesday&#x27;s House probe into flood control programs, Hernandez alleged that some engineers with the Department of Public Works and Highways have become &quot;legmen&quot; or &quot;bagmen&quot; for politicians. </p><p>&quot;Kung tatanungin nyo po ako kung sino o kanino kami naging bagman…sabi ni Senator Marcoleta kahapon, ‘Ligtas ka na.’ Hindi po ito totoo,&quot; Hernandez said.</p><p>&quot;Si Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Senator Joel Villanueva, [DPWH] Usec. Robert Bernardo at DE (District Engineer Henry) Alcantara,&quot; he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/9/ex-dpwh-engineer-tags-estrada-villanueva-in-alleged-flood-control-anomalies-1055">Ex-DPWH engineer tags Estrada, Villanueva in alleged flood control anomalies</a></div><p>Hernandez alleged that Estrada and Villanueva received &quot;commitments&quot; equal to about 30 percent of the project cost for some floodgates and pumping stations in Bulacan.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;COMMON SENSE&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Estrada in the news conference said Hernandez&#x27;s accusations were &quot;malicious&quot; and &quot;outright lies,&quot; saying he is confident that he did not commit any illegal acts.</p><p>He was one of the senators who grilled former and current DPWH Bulacan engineers during the Senate hearing on Monday.</p><p>Estrada said: &quot;Just common sense, will you think I will be actively participating in this investigation na nandun siya, kilala ko siya, nagbibigay siya ng pera sa akin? I should have abstained from this hearing. Malakas ang loob ko dahil I never, I did not, commit any illegal act.&quot;</p><p>He pointed out that former District Engineer Henry Alcantara denied receiving kickbacks or delivering money to politicians. </p><p>When asked about the photo showing Estrada and Alcantara, the senator said he &quot;cannot recall&quot; the event.</p><p>&quot;Sa dami ng nagpapa-picture sa akin di ko naman pwedeng tanggihan. E kung drug lord &#x27;yan, gambling lord, malay ko naman. kung drug lord &#x27;yan o gambling lord di ko naman matatanggihan kung sinong nagpapa-picture sa akin,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;GUNI-GUNI&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>In a separate speech, Estrada demanded Hernandez to prove &quot;every single allegation he has made in a court of law,&quot; adding the engineer should &quot;back them up with solid, irrefutable evidence.&quot;</p><p>&quot;I will not allow this brazen attempt to smear my name to go unanswered. This will not pass quietly. Beyond the administrative and criminal liabilities he may face, I will ensure that Mr. Hernandez is held accountable for perjury and made to answer for his deliberate falsehoods before the proper judicial forum,&quot; the senator said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/8/senate-panel-cites-ex-dpwh-exec-in-contempt-over-casino-grilling-1247">Senate Blue Ribbon panel cites ex-DPWH exec in contempt over casino grilling</a></div><p>&quot;These claims are not only malicious – they are blatant lies, clearly intended to mislead the public, besmirch my name again, and discredit my continued participation in the Senate hearing.&quot;</p><p>Hernandez also accused Estrada of handing down P350 million this year to some projects in Bulacan. He claimed that the senator&#x27;s &quot;SOP&quot; for the projects was &quot;30 percent,&quot; citing Alcantara.</p><p>&quot;Diniliver ito noong lumabas ang mga item na ito sa GAA (General Appropriations Act),&quot; Hernandez said.</p><p>In the speech, Estrada denied receiving any amount as kickback from flood control projects. </p><p>&quot;Gaya ng mga guni-guni nilang flood control projects, guni-guni rin ang sinasabi niya na 30 percent commitment ko raw,&quot; the lawmaker said.</p><p>&quot;Para sa mga ordinaryo nating mga kababayan, ang mga binanggit niyang mga proyekto ay nasa line items ng 2025 GAA General Appropriations Act. Isang malaking kasinungalingan ang mga pinagsasabi niya para iugnay ang aking pangalan sa mga proyektong binanggit niya na nasa ilalim na ng 2025 GAA sa isinagawang pagdinig sa mababang kapulungan,&quot; he added.</p><p>The senator earlier challenged Hernandez to a lie detector test &quot;to show the public who is telling the truth.&quot;</p><div> <strong>— With a report from Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i8JH6SuDEvM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_0qKNDgAeRE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday threatened to sue former Bulacan First District Assistant Engineer Brice Hernandez, who accused him of receiving kickbacks in flood control projects.</p>

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday threatened to sue former Bulacan First District Assistant Engineer Brice Hernandez, who accused him of receiving kickbacks in flood control projects.

Jinggoy to take legal action vs ex-DPWH engineer who accused him of corruption

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Jinggoy to take legal action vs ex-DPWH engineer who accused him of corruption

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 09, 2025 03:19 PM PHT

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Updated September 09, 2025 04:04 PM PHT

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Jinggoy Estrada

Flood Control

Senate

politics

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