Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada on Tuesday, Sept. 9, categorically denied allegations linking him to anomalous infrastructure projects, and boldly challenged his accuser to a public lie detector test.
“Let us take a lie detector test before the public para malaman ng lahat kung sino ang nagsasabi ng totoo,” Estrada declared, responding to claims made during a House of Representatives hearing on the controversy surrounding the government’s flood control projects.
The allegations came from Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assistant district engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez, who named Estrada as one of the senators allegedly involved in questionable infrastructure initiatives.
Hernandez also implicated Sen. Joel Villanueva, DPWH Undersecretary Robert Bernardo, and District Engineer Henry Alcantara.
“I categorically and vehemently deny the claims made by Brice Hernandez,” Estrada said.
“Talk is cheap — handa akong patunayan na pawang mga kasinungalingan ang sinasabi n’ya tungkol sa akin.”
According to Hernandez, Estrada was a proponent of P355-million worth of projects in Bulacan for 2025. He alleged that Estrada’s supposed standard operating procedure (SOP) involved a 30 percent cut, citing District Engineer Alcantara as his source.
Hernandez further claimed that in 2023, Sen. Villanueva released P600 million in projects with a similar 30 percent SOP. (Hannah Torregoza)
