SENATOR Jinggoy Estrada issued a challenge to former Bulacan First District assistant engineer, Brice Hernandez, for the two of them to undergo a lie-detector test after Hernandez claimed that Estrada is also involved in the multi-billion flood control project scandal.
“I categorically and vehemently deny the claims made by Brice Hernandez.
“I challenge him. Let us take a lie detector test before the public para malaman ng lahat kung sino ang nagsasabi ng totoo.
“Talk is cheap — handa akong patunayan na pawang mga kasinungalingan ang sinasabi nya tungkol sa akin,” Estrada declared.
Aside from Estrada, Hernandez also named Senator Joel Villanueva whom he alleged to have inserted P600 million in flood control projects for Bulacan.
Hernandez made the allegation against Estrada and Villanueva during the separate probe being conducted at the House of Representatives on Tuesday (September 9) spearheaded by the Committee on Infrastructure under Rep. Teddy Ridon.
Hernandez said Estrada “downloaded” several flood control projects in Bulacan worth P355 million. He also claimed that Estrada and Villanueva got 30 percent as ‘coimmitment’ for each project.
Testifying before the Senate a day before, Hernandez was cited in contempt and ended up as a detainee of the Senate when he was allowed to testify at the House hearing.
Sen. Erwin Tulfo moved to cite Hernandez for contempt for his repeated denial of his gambling habit where he was confirmed to have lost hundreds of millions in casinos using a fake identity.
The motion was immediately seconded by Estrada.
Hernandez’s ruse to implicate Estrada and Villanueva resulted to his being transferred to the Philippine National Police (PNP) for detention after Congress rejected his request to be detained there instead.
Ridon said it was the compromise agreement he reached with the Senate “leadership,” purportedly with new Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
Right after the Senate hearing, a coup was staged during the chamber’s plenary session that resulted to Sotto replacing Sen. Francis Escudero as Senate President (see related story).
Estrada said it was clear that Hernandez is trying to get back at him for the latter’s contempt citation.