Senator Jinggoy Estrada dumped around PHP355 million for the flood control project kickbacks in Bulacan earlier this year, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan Assistant District Engineer, Brice Ericson Hernandez, said.

With the resumption of the House Infra Committee hearing on Tuesday, September 9, Hernandez dropped several big names within the government, alleging that some senators are also involved with the project anomalies.

“Tama po si Senator [Panfilo “Ping”] Lacson na ang mga engineers ng DPWH ay tila naging legman o bagman na lang. Kung tatanungin niyo po ako kung sino o kanino kami naging bagman, sasagutin ko na po ngayon,” Hernandez said.

“Sabi ni Senator Marcoleta kahapon, 'ligtas ka na,' hindi po ito totoo,” he added, naming Senator Joel Villanueva, Senator Estrada, DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, and former DPWH Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara as the ones involved in the said anomalies.

According to Hernandez, Estrada spent millions of pesos this year on a few projects in Bulacan, adding that his boss informed him of the 30% commitment.

Some of these projects were:

• The construction of a flood-mitigating structure with pumping station and floodgate, Phase 3 Barangay Mercado, Hagonoy, Bulacan, with an allocation of P60 million.
• Flood control mitigating structure with pumping station and floodgate at Mambog Creek, Phase 3, Malolos City, Bulacan, with an amount of P45 million.
• Construction of Flood Mitigating Structure with Pumping Station and Floodgate Phase 3, Barangay Iba, Hagonoy, Bulacan, amounting to P60 million.
• Construction of flood mitigating structure with pumping station at Calero Creek, Phase 3, Malolo City, Bulacan, amounting to P50 million.
• Construction of flood control structure, including pumping station and floodgate, Phase 3, Barangay Mato, Kalumpit, Bulacan, amounting to P60 million.
• Construction of flood mitigation structure with pumping station and floodgate at Barangay Santo Rosario Creek, Phase 3, Malolo City, Bulacan, amounting to P40 million.
• Construction of flood mitigation structure, including pumping station and floodgate, Phase 3, Barangay Carillo, Agono, Bulacan, amounting to P40 million.

The total allocation for the said projects amounts to PHP355 million. Hernandez added, stating, “Nagbaba po si Senator Jinggoy at ang kanyang SOP dito ay 30% as per our district engineer Henry Alcantara.”

Moreover, he said that drivers from the DPWH Bulacan were the ones who delivered the funds, as per the directive of Alcantara.

“Noong 2023 naman, P600 million si Senator Joel Villanueva at ang SOP nito ay 30 percent din,” Hernandez said.

The line items of the said projects that involve Villanueva are:

• Rehabilitation of flood control structure along Balagtas River, Barangay Panginay, Cuaua, Phase 3, Balagtas, Bulacan, with an amount of P75 million.
• Construction of Bukawi River Flood Mitigation Structure Station 12, plus 589 to Station 12, plus 739 at Barangay Bambang, Bocaue, Bulacan, with an amount of P75 million.
• Construction of Bocaue River Flood Mitigation Structure at Station 4, plus 204 to Station 4, plus 354 at Barangay Turo, Bocaue, Bulacan, with an amount of P75 million.
• Construction of Bocaue River Flood Mitigation Structure at Station 3, plus 036 to Station 3, plus 236 at Barangay Kaingin, Bocaue, Bulacan, with an amount of P75 million.
• Construction of Bocaue River Flood Mitigation Structure at Station 5, plus 466 to Station 5, plus 667 at Barangay Bullo, Bocaue, Bulacan, with an amount of P75 million.
• Construction of Balagtas River Flood Mitigation Structure at Station 3, plus 533 to Station 3, plus 683 at Barangay Santol, Balagtas, Bulacan, with an amount of P75 million.
• Construction of Balagtas River Flood Mitigation Structure at Station 7, plus 654 to Station 7, plus 804 at Barangay Dalig, Balagtas, Bulacan, also with an amount of P75 million.
• Construction of Balagtas River Flood Mitigation Structure at Station 14, plus 124 to Station 14, plus 274 at Barangay San Juan, Balagtas, Bulacan, also with an amount of P75 million.

This also totals to P600 million with an SOP of 30%.

According to Hernandez, the said amount is reflected in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA). Moreover, he claimed that former Alcantara is the chief implementor.

“Siya po ang kumakausap sa lahat ng politiko na involved dito. At least 3% po siya sa lahat ng projects na dumadaan sa opisina namin. At pinapasabi pa nga sa amin sa mga contractor na kung gusto nyong magkaroon ng maraming projects sa susunod, magbigay kayo ng additional na 2% sa kanya. Parang finders fee daw,” Hernandez said.

In addition, Alcantara is also said to be the one delivering the money to politicians like DPWH Undersecretary Bernardo.