Senate Probe Confirms ₱600-M Flood Projects Linked to Villanueva; Estrada Also Dragged into Kickback Scandal

MANILA — The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee confirmed Thursday that ₱600 million worth of flood control projects linked to Senator Joel Villanueva were included in the unprogrammed funds of the 2023 national budget, intensifying allegations of massive kickbacks that also implicated Senator Jinggoy Estrada.

Lacson: ₱600M Found in Unprogrammed Funds

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson told the panel that his review of the 2023 General Appropriations Act revealed seven to eight items worth ₱75 million each, totaling ₱600 million.

“We want to be honest, especially to the public watching. Indeed, there really is ₱600 million as described, enumerated under the unprogrammed fund,” Lacson said.“This is what you are claiming Senator Joel inserted in Bulacan. I counted, and there are either seven or eight items with a value of ₱75 million each. I computed that’s exactly ₱600 million.”

Initially, Lacson had said the projects were not in the official GAA, but Hernandez clarified they were lodged under the unprogrammed funds, citing documents first presented by Senator Win Gatchalian.

Allegations of Kickbacks

Earlier, former Bulacan Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez told lawmakers that Villanueva allegedly demanded a 30% kickback from the ₱600 million Bulacan flood control projects, while Estrada was tied to ₱355 million in suspicious insertions.

Hernandez’s credibility, however, came under fire when he failed to identify specific entries in the budget. Lacson branded parts of his testimony “false and misleading.”

₱663M in Cash Deliveries

The session turned tense when Sally Santos, general manager of SYMS Construction Trading, testified she personally handed Hernandez ₱663 million in cash between March and May 2025:

• ₱457 million on March 24

• ₱141 million on May 6

• ₱65 million on May 23

  
  

When Hernandez initially admitted to receiving only ₱100 million, Lacson shot back:

“Will you keep lying? When will you stop lying?”

Hernandez maintained the funds were “project collections” instructed by former Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara, but Lacson countered:

“Why would contractors deliver cash to you? You’re not the contractor.”

Mendoza: ₱1.2B Request, ₱600M Granted

Dismissed Bulacan 1st District Assistant Engineer Jaypee Mendoza testified that Villanueva initially requested ₱1.2 billion worth of projects from then DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, but only ₱600 million was granted from the unprogrammed funds.

Mendoza said Alcantara converted the ₱600 million into flood control projects, with contractors allegedly forced to surrender 25% or ₱150 million in cuts. Mendoza presented a list of projects tied to Villanueva.

Digital Trail Disputed

Mendoza also alleged that Villanueva used Viber disappearing messages with Alcantara in 2022, coinciding with Bonoan’s confirmation. But Villanueva dismissed the supposed screenshots as fake, even citing a fabricated text message produced in “20 seconds” to frame him.

He accused Mendoza and his group of engaging in deception, even alleging they used fake driver’s licenses at casinos. Mendoza denied the accusations.

Senators Deny Involvement

Lacson clarified that Estrada’s alleged projects were traceable in the GAA, unlike Villanueva’s. Estrada denounced the accusations as “lies” meant to destroy him, while Villanueva challenged DPWH officials to clear his name.

A Growing Scandal

The Senate probe has now ballooned into a full-scale investigation of billions in questionable allocations, including multiple unprogrammed projects in the 2023 budget. Lacson said the matter will be tackled further in the next hearing.

With contractors admitting multimillion-peso cash deliveries, lawmakers trading denials, and new digital evidence emerging, the controversy threatens to explode into one of the largest public works scandals in Philippine history.