FORMER Bulacan 1st district assistant engineer Brice Hernandez will no longer be considered for state witness status in the investigation into anomalous flood control projects, according to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.
Remulla stated on Friday that Hernandez is now being treated as a “cooperative witness” due to the perceived difficulty in granting blanket immunity, especially in cases involving alleged “ghost projects.”
Remulla explained that Hernandez visited the Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday as part of the ongoing fact-finding investigation into the flood control irregularities. The Ombudsman suggested that the case is strong enough to secure convictions without relying on a state witness. “Open and shut case, yan, eh. Whether or not they cooperate, mako-convict naman sila talaga diyan, diba? Hindi mo naman kailangan ng state witness kung tutuusin,” Remulla stated.
Despite not being granted state witness status, Remulla assured that Hernandez will receive “special consideration” in coordination with the court. “Siyempre, bibigyan natin ng special consideration with the permission of the court. Kasi lahat po ‘yan, sinasangguni natin sa court,” he said. Hernandez, who has implicated several lawmakers in the flood control controversy, had previously sought to be considered a state witness in the investigation.
The shift in Hernandez’s status comes after the Department of Justice (DOJ) referred its recommendations to the Office of the Ombudsman, seeking the filing of charges against Department of Public Works and Highways officials from the Bulacan First District Engineering Office and contractors involved in the flood control projects. The Ombudsman’s decision to designate Hernandez as a cooperative witness suggests a strategic approach aimed at streamlining the investigation and expediting the prosecution of those implicated in the alleged corruption.
