Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva have denied allegations made by former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan 1st District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez, who claimed both senators received 30% kickbacks from government flood control projects.
In a press conference held at the Senate yesterday, Estrada challenged Hernandez to undergo a lie-detector test alongside him to determine who was telling the truth. Estrada also insisted he would not dare appear before the Blue Ribbon Committee under its new chairman, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson, if he were guilty.
“Hindi ko papalampasin na hindi sagutin ang mga malisyoso, tahasang kasinungalingan at walang basehang mga akusasyon sa akin ni Brice Hernandez, hinding hindi ako papayag na makaladkad ang aking pangalan sa mga pahayag na kathang-isip at gawa-gawang salaysay,” Estrada declared.
Estrada suggested Hernandez was retaliating against him after being cited in contempt by the Senate on Monday, stressing how easy it was to hurl accusations without presenting evidence.
Meanwhile, Villanueva took to the Senate plenary to defend himself from Hernandez’s claims.
“Wala po ako kailanman naging flood control projects, hindi ko po sasabihin na ‘i categorically deny these accusation’ dahil po may resibo po tayo, mayroon pong pe-pwedeng i-beripeka kung bakit ito nangyayari,” Villanueva asserted.
Villanueva hinted that there might be a bigger figure behind Hernandez’s accusations, though he stopped short of naming names. Based on his remarks, however, he appeared to be alluding to House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
“Dito rin po sa bulwagan na ito Mr. President, unang nasabi yung binabanggit kahapon ni SP Escudero, a name that cannot be mentioned, walang iba kundi si ‘Dracula’ na ginawang tagapag-bantay ng KAMARA doon po sa National Blood Bank natin,” Villanueva said cryptically.
Estrada has already written to Senate Secretary Renato Bantug, requesting an investigation into a Senate employee Hernandez linked to him.