SENATE President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III confirmed on Tuesday that former Public Works and Highways (DPWH) District Engineer Brice Hernandez will be detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) custodial center, but will remain strictly under the supervision of the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA).
Sotto stated that the decision was reached in coordination with House Speaker Martin Romualdez, recognizing inter-parliamentary courtesy after the House requested Hernandez’s presence at its hearing on anomalous flood control projects. “To make sure he is safe but still in custody of the Senate, the Speaker and I agreed to place him in the PNP custodial center but under the supervision of the Senate OSAA,” Sotto said in a message to reporters.
The arrangement aims to balance the Senate’s authority to detain Hernandez for contempt with concerns for his safety, particularly after Hernandez himself expressed fear for his well-being if returned to Senate custody.
Hernandez made the plea during the House hearing, shortly before implicating Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva in alleged anomalous flood control projects. Hernandez was initially cited for contempt by the Senate blue ribbon panel for denying the use of a fake ID in casinos.
