Former DPWH Bulacan deputy engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez during his testimony linking senators to alleged kickbacks. (Photo: Senate of the Philippines / screengrab)
DPWH files non-bailable graft cases against over 20 officials and contractors; Marcos freezes flood-control budget and creates probe commission.
MANILA — A former assistant district engineer from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has alleged that two sitting senators received kickbacks from multimillion-peso flood-control projects in Bulacan, a claim both lawmakers have strongly denied as part of widening corruption inquiries into government infrastructure spending.
Brice Ericson Hernandez, who previously served as deputy district engineer of DPWH’s Bulacan 1st Engineering District, testified under oath before the House Committee on Infrastructure on Monday, September 8. He urged lawmakers not to return him to the Senate for questioning, citing safety concerns after making accusations implicating Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva in the alleged misuse of public works funds.
The allegations
Hernandez claimed that Estrada and Villanueva received 30 percent commissions from contracts awarded for flood-control projects in Bulacan. According to his testimony, Estrada allegedly benefited from ₱355 million worth of projects, while Villanueva was tied to ₱600 million in contracts in 2023.
He presented photographs of neatly stacked bundles of money, which he said were routinely prepared for distribution to beneficiaries, including elected officials. Hernandez described the sight of large piles of cash at the district office as “normal” practice. However, aside from his testimony and the photos, no documentary proof was presented to directly link the money to the senators.
Responses from the senators
Senator Jinggoy Estrada strongly denounced the allegations as a “big lie” and announced he would file a lawsuit against Hernandez for linking him to the alleged kickback scheme. He also questioned the engineer’s credibility, noting that he had never met Hernandez, and invited him to take a lie detector test alongside him to prove the truthfulness of his claims.
Senator Joel Villanueva likewise dismissed the accusations, insisting he has evidence to clear his name. He emphasized his commitment to integrity, stating he would not dishonor his parents’ legacy with corrupt acts.
Neither senator has been formally charged as of this report.
Investigations widen
The scandal has already led to the resignation of the Public Works secretary and pushed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to create an Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) tasked with investigating alleged anomalies in flood-control projects spanning multiple administrations. Marcos also ordered a freeze on next year’s flood-control budgetpending a full audit.
On September 11, DPWH confirmed that it has filed criminal complaints against more than 20 personnel and contractors linked to the Bulacan anomalies. Many of these cases, including graft, corruption, and malversation, are classified as non-bailable under Philippine law.
Public outrage, fueled by widely shared images of cash bundles, has mobilized civic groups, religious leaders, and citizens to demand accountability through the government’s “Sumbong sa Pangulo” portal. Lawmakers have also proposed tapping private inspectors to audit government projects and prevent future “ghost” works.
Safeguards and context
The case against Estrada and Villanueva rests entirely on Hernandez’s sworn testimony and the photos of cash bundles he presented. No contracts, receipts, or other documents have been produced to corroborate his claims. Both senators have categorically denied involvement, with Estrada vowing to sue Hernandez and Villanueva pledging to present evidence of his innocence.
At the same time, DPWH’s September 11 filing of criminal complaints against more than 20 officials and contractors, coupled with the creation of the ICI and the suspension of flood-control funding, show that the government is moving to address systemic irregularities beyond the testimonies of a single witness.
