MANILA – Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer Brice Hernandez on Thursday contradicted earlier claims from his own lawyer, clarifying before a Senate inquiry that the files in his possession implicate members of the House of Representatives—not senators—in the alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
“Actually, may mga congressman po doon. Hindi po senador yung laman ng computer ko,” Hernandez told senators, refuting media statements made by his counsel, Raymond Fortun, that his computer contained evidence against six senators.
The clarification came after Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III pressed him about the supposed list of senators, which Hernandez flatly dismissed as “fake news.”
Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa also confronted him on whether Fortun had pressured him into naming certain lawmakers.
Hernandez responded: “Hindi po, your honor. Ako po ang nagalit sa kanya kasi mali po yung information na lumabas. Pinagsabihan ko po siya.”
He added that he had warned Fortun against releasing unverified information, but confirmed the lawyer remains part of his legal team.
Hernandez’s testimony added another layer of controversy to the Senate probe, which has so far gathered accounts from witnesses linking lawmakers to “ghost” and substandard flood control projects now under investigation./PN
