Ex-DPWH Official Accuses Estrada, Villanueva of Graft in Flood Control Projects

Ex-DPWH Official Accuses Estrada, Villanueva of Graft in Flood Control Projects

By Wilma N. Yamzon – TheNationWeek.Com l September 15, 2025

MANILA, Philippines – A bombshell accusation has rocked the country’s Senate as a former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official implicated Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva in a corruption scandal involving nearly P1 billion allocated for flood control projects in Bulacan.

During a House infrastructure committee hearing, Brice Hernandez, a former assistant district engineer, testified that both senators allegedly received kickbacks of at least 30 percent from the allocated funds.

He claimed Estrada facilitated the allocation of P355 million in the 2023 national budget, and Villanueva earmarked P600 million in the 2025 budget for the province’s first district.

Hernandez, characterizing the kickbacks as a “standard operating procedure,” urged the committee to protect him from being returned to Senate custody, where he faces detention for contempt.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III confirmed an agreement with House Speaker Martin Romualdez to detain Hernandez at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center while under Senate monitoring.

“Sen. (Panfilo) Lacson is correct in saying that DPWH engineers have become intermediaries for kickbacks,” Hernandez said, referring to previous remarks suggesting his immunity from repercussions.

He detailed Estrada’s alleged involvement in allocating funds for flood mitigation projects, consistently demanding a 30 percent kickback.

Hernandez specifically highlighted seven projects, including significant flood control structures in Hagonoy and Malolos, purportedly linked to Estrada.

Several projects tied to Estrada were executed by Ferdstar Builders, with contracts signed by Ang Magbubukid Rep. Ferdinand Beltran.

Projects associated with Villanueva primarily focused on river flood mitigation structures in Bocaue and Balagtas, also valued at P600 million.

Hernandez presented photographs of cash stacks, allegedly delivered by contractors to the Bulacan district office for project proponents, as evidence.

Adding to the gravity of the claims, Assistant District Engineer Jaypee Mendoza shared screenshots of disappearing Viber messages between Alcantara and Villanueva, captured before their deletion.

Both senators vehemently denied the allegations.

Estrada announced his intention to pursue legal action against Hernandez for defamation, saying, “I will not allow this blatant attempt to tarnish my reputation to go unchallenged,” and proposed a public lie detector test.

Villanueva echoed Estrada’s denial, asserting he possesses receipts to validate his claims and denying any involvement in flood control projects.

This is not the first time senators have faced scrutiny involving public funds.

Estrada has a prior conviction related to the pork barrel scam, and Villanueva has been implicated in past corruption allegations during his tenure as a party-list representative.

The unfolding situation raises serious concerns about corruption within public infrastructure projects and has ignited calls for a thorough investigation.