Senator Jinggoy Estrada has strongly denied allegations made by former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez linking him to anomalous flood control projects.
“I categorically and vehemently deny the claims made by Brice Hernandez,” Estrada said. “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 niya tungkol sa akin.”
At the House Infrastructure Committee hearing on Tuesday, September 9, Hernandez claimed that DPWH engineers were reduced to acting as “bagmen” for politicians allegedly benefiting from public works projects. He named Estrada, Senator Joel Villanueva, DPWH Undersecretary Robert Bernardo, and district engineer Henry Alcantara as among those who supposedly received kickbacks.
“Kung tatanungin n’yo kung sino o kanino kami naging bagman, sasagutin ko na po ngayon… Si Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Sen. Joel Villanueva, Usec. Robert Bernardo at district engineer Henry Alcantara,” Hernandez testified.
As of writing, Villanueva has yet to issue a statement.
Meanwhile, comedian, TV host, and director John Lapus inserted humor into the controversy by offering to reprise his role as lie detector host. Lapus previously led the ‘Don’t Lie to Me’ segment on the talk show ‘Showbiz Central’ from 2007 to 2012, where celebrities underwent lie detector tests live on air.
Posting on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Lapus wrote: “Available po ako bukas sa mga gusto magpa-Lie Detector Test. Ty fyi.”
His post quickly went viral, with netizens leaving a mix of nostalgic and witty comments.
