Former Bulacan first district assistant engineer Brice Hernandez disclosed that he and several other engineers at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) divided the “profits” for ghost projects during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing Thursday.

Hernandez said we have a sharing once we get income from these ghost projects, Boss Henry referring to Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara, has 40%, I have 20%, engineer Jaypee Mendoza gets 20% and engineer Paul Duya also gets 20%.)

Hernandez also shared that the increase of “grease money” was part of the reason why they decided to make ghost projects.

“Sa proponent daw po [napupunta yung tara], sabi ni boss. Wala po akong direktang ano, pakikipag-usap sa proponent,” Hernandez added.

Hernandez made the statement after he was granted legislative immunity by the Senate to share how ghost projects worked in their district.

Meanwhile, Bulacan first district engineer Alcantara, rejected the accusations.

“Hindi ko po alam [kung sino yung proponent,] your honor. Every time po na may itatanong sa kanya, puro po ang turo sa akin… Maliwanag naman po dito na sinasabi ng contractor na sila po ang kausap niya, your honor,” he said.

Alcantara was later cited in contempt by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee for allegedly lying about his knowledge of the projects.

Senator Erwin Tulfo put forward the motion, saying it is unbelievable that Alcantara would not know about the ghost projects in his jurisdiction when he is the chief of the DPWH District Engineering Office there.