Photo credit: DPWH

A former official from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has made stunning allegations, claiming that engineers within the department have been reduced to acting as bagmen for various politicians. During a recent testimony, former DPWH Bulacan assistant district engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez detailed how a P355 million budget for flood control projects in Bulacan was allegedly funneled with a 30% "commitment" fee.

Hernandez explicitly named two senators—Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada and Sen. Joel Villanueva—as well as Undersecretary Robert Bernardo and a person identified as "D. Alcantara." He stated that Senator Estrada had allocated the P355 million for several projects in Bulacan for the year 2025.

The former engineer then listed seven specific flood mitigation projects in the towns of Hagonoy, Malolos City, and Calumpit, all adding up to the total amount of P355 million. These included the construction of flood-mitigating structures with pumping stations and floodgates in various barangays.

Hernandez’s testimony brings a shocking new dimension to the issue of corruption in public works, suggesting that a significant portion of project funds may be diverted before work even begins. His claims paint a picture where public servants are allegedly forced to act as conduits for illegal transactions, raising serious questions about the integrity of government projects and the use of taxpayer money.