Senator Jinggoy Estrada directly confronted former DPWH Bulacan 1st District Assistant Engineer Brice Hernandez over allegations that his supposed staff, Beng Ramos, was the one receiving money on his behalf.
The confrontation came after Hernandez testified before the House Committee on Infrastructure, claiming that Estrada and Senator Joel Villanueva were allegedly receiving a 30% kickback from flood control projects.
“Hindi ko siya naging staff kahit kailan simula nung pumasok ako sa Senado noong 2004 up to the present, hindi ko naging staff si Beng Ramos,” Estrada firmly declared.
Pressing Hernandez, Estrada asked: “How did you come to that conclusion na staff ko si Beng Ramos?”
Hernandez responded: “Si Boss Henry (Alcantara) po ang nagsabi sa akin na staff niyo daw po si Beng Ramos.”
Former DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineer Henry Alcantara, however, distanced himself from the claim:
“Hindi ko nga po kilala ‘tong si Mina (Jose) at yung Beng Ramos po, ang alam ko po, nung nagtatanong nga po ako, sila po magkakakilala nyan, taga-Sta. Maria po yan eh, hindi ko naman po personally kilala yan eh.”
In the same hearing, Hernandez further exposed the alleged kickback-sharing scheme among DPWH engineers:
“Pag kumita po, si Boss Henry po mayroong 40%, ako po may 20%, si Engr. Jaypee (Mendoza) may 20% at si Engr. Paul (Duya) mayroon din pong 20%.”