Former Bulacan assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez on Tuesday presented photos to establish alleged links between two senators and a dismissed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer accused of orchestrating kickbacks from flood control projects in Bulacan.
Hernandez, who is under Senate custody after being cited in contempt, told the House Infra Committee that Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva allegedly benefited from P955-million worth of Bulacan flood control projects through a 30 percent “SOP” (share of project), another term for kickbacks or commission.
To support his testimony, Hernandez showed a photo of Estrada with dismissed DPWH Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara taken during Estrada’s birthday party at the Solaire Resort Hotel. He said the image was proof of their close relationship.
“I do not know when this picture was taken but I’m just trying to show that Mr. Alcantara, Engineer Henry Alcantara and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada have met a couple of times already,” Hernandez said. Asked if they appeared close, he replied: “They appear super close, Your Honor.”
Hernandez also presented photos of bundles of cash, which he said were prepared for distribution.
“Your Honor, I don’t know who it was, but we were just ordered to arrange the money. This amount is for this, ‘prepare it there, it will be distributed to someone.’ Just like that, we segregate the money,” Hernandez said.
“As far as my knowledge is concerned, ibibigay po ‘yan sa tao. ‘Yung tinatawag na proponent na kausap niya (it was intended to a person, who they refer to as ‘proponent’ that he was talking to),” he added.
He said he could no longer remember the intended recipients because the photos were taken years ago, explaining: “So the money was prepared for delivery with regards to the proponent who talked to Boss Henry Alcantara.”
Hernandez clarified that the photos of the cash were not taken at the district engineering office but at a nearby private residence converted into a hangout area.
“It’s a private residence with a billiards table, so we can hang out after office hours. That’s right. Within the vicinity of our office,” he said.
He capped his presentation with photos and screenshots of a Viber conversation he said linked Villanueva to the anomalous projects.
Because the messages were set to disappear, Hernandez said the screenshots were taken from Alcantara’s phone by another engineer.
Engineer Jaypee Mendoza, another former DPWH official, confirmed the authenticity of the images and said the “Sen. Joel” in the chat referred to Villanueva.
Mendoza read the conversation into the record after first asking for security guarantees, which the committee granted.
Mendoza said the photos were taken in October 2023 and showed Villanueva requesting allocations tied to the flood control projects Hernandez had earlier identified.
“It’s like a summary of what Sen. Joel was saying that his funds are limited, but he is the Majority Floor Leader and he is a member of the Commission on Appointments,” he said.
When asked to confirm, Mendoza said: “Yes, Your Honor, this is Sen. Joel Villanueva.”
He added that the messages also mentioned a “Sec,” identified as then-DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, and were addressed to Alcantara.
