THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested two former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, Brice Ericson Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, at the Senate on Monday night, following the issuance of arrest warrants by the Sandiganbayan Third Division in connection with a “ghost” flood control project in Bulacan.
Hernandez, a former assistant district engineer, and Mendoza, a former construction section chief, were taken into custody after the Senate authorized the serving of the warrants.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III confirmed that he authorized the serving of the warrants and that Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, had already been informed. The two had been detained at the Senate last year for allegedly lying during a Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on anomalous flood control projects.
The court also ordered the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to include the names of the accused in their Hold Departure List, along with former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. Their other co-accused are Engr. Arjay Domasig, Engr. Emelita Juat, Juanito Mendoza, and Christina Pineda.
The prosecution alleges that the respondents conspired to facilitate the release of P76 million for the construction of a P92.8 million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan, which was declared completed but never implemented based on inspection and witness accounts. Revilla has denied the allegations.
Although Hernandez and Mendoza applied for inclusion in the Witness Protection Program, the Department of Justice (DOJ) stated they did not qualify to become state witnesses.
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