During a joint hearing of the House Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday, Sept., a witness revealed receiving death threats via mobile phone in connection with the investigation into alleged anomalous and “ghost” flood control projects.
JP Mendoza, an engineer from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan district office, testified that he received a call from a Viber user identified as “Hitman” moments before he was scheduled to speak before the panel.
Mendoza said the same user had previously sent him a threatening message on September 1. “Last Sept. 1 po, may nag-message sa Viber, ang naka-name ay ‘Hitman.’ Tapos ngayon po, bago ako magsalita, tumatawag na naman siya,” Mendoza told the committee.
During the hearing, Mendoza also presented screenshots of alleged Viber message exchanges between Senator Joel Villanueva and former DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineer Henry Alcantara.
Villanueva, in a privilege speech, denied Mendoza’s allegation. He said he was ready to take part in the investigation.
Mendoza also supported the testimony of his first district engineering colleague, former assistant district engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez, who linked not only Villanueva but also Senator Jinggoy Estrada to flood control projects in Bulacan amounting to almost P1 billion.
Estrada, in a press conference, denied claims made by Hernandez and challenged him to take a lie detector test.
Mendoza’s revelation came as Curlee Discaya, the contractor who secured the biggest flood control projects from the government, said in a Senate hearing on Monday, Sep. 8, that there was no senator involved in the anomalies.
Mendoza then sought protection from the House of Representatives amid the security concerns.
“Kung baga sana, ‘yung ina-ask ko po na security ay asap na po sana sir…puwede pong masama din rin ‘yung family ko po,” he said.
Infra Comm overall chairman, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon acknowledged the death threats being received by Mendoza and put them on record.
“It is something the committee is taking seriously. We will discuss it as soon as we end this meeting,” Ridon said. (Joseph Pedrajas)
