ESCUDERO SIGNS ARREST, DETENTION ORDER OF EX-DPWH ENGINEER IN FLOOD CONTROL ANOMALIES

SENATE President Francis “Chiz Escudero has approved the arrest and detention of a former engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) linked to “ghost” flood control projects in Bulacan, after the latter was cited in contempt by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee for evading questions during an investigation on Monday.

Based on the order signed by the Senate leader, Brice Erickson Hernandez, formerly the assistant district engineer in Bulacan, where various non-existent flood control projects have been reported, will be detained at the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms “until such time that he gives his true testimony, or otherwise purges himself of that contempt.”

The former DPWH district engineer was ordered to stay for the duration of today’s hearing before he was escorted to the Senate detention center.

Hernandez, who appeared for the first time before the Blue Ribbon Committee after he was subpoenaed to attend the Senate hearing, was questioned on his involvement in highly-irregular flood control projects and his gambling activities in which he used fake identification card to enter the casinos.

Members of the Senate Blue Ribbon panel were convinced, however, that Hernandez was evasive and untruthful in his replies, moving the committee to cite him in contempt.