SENATOR Jinggoy Estrada is preparing to file a perjury complaint against Brice Hernandez, a former assistant district engineer at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in response to Hernandez’s accusations linking the senator to anomalous flood control projects.
Estrada’s office announced that the complaint will be filed at the Quezon City Office of the City Prosecutor on Tuesday, October 7. The move comes after Hernandez implicated Estrada during a House Infrastructure Committee hearing in September, alleging that the senator was responsible for directing P355 million worth of infrastructure deals to Bulacan. Estrada has vehemently denied these allegations.
“Yes, sa sampahan ko ng kaso yan (I will file a case against him). I have to talk to my lawyers,” Estrada previously stated, expressing his anger and disbelief at Hernandez’s claims. “Nagalit talaga ako. Talagang napamura ako. Napakasinungaling nitong taong ‘to. Because first of all, hinding hindi ko siya kilala, and I have never met that guy.” (I was really angry. I even cursed. That person is a liar. Because first of all, I never knew him and I have never met that guy.)
Hernandez is currently under “provisional acceptance” into the Witness Protection Program of the Department of Justice (DOJ), along with other DPWH personnel and witnesses, but has not yet been designated as a state witness.
He has provided the DOJ with information stored on his computer, which he has clarified contains the names of lawmakers, not senators, who may be connected to the alleged anomalous flood control projects. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has stated that up to 200 individuals nationwide are under investigation for potential involvement in these projects.
