ICI turns over ex-DPWH exec’s luxury vehicles to Ombudsman

LUXURY ‘EVIDENCE’ A GMC Yukon Denali and a Lamborghini Uros Performante owned by former Department of Public Works and Highways engineer Brice Hernandez are now with the Office of the Ombudsman after the luxury vehicles were turned over by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure as part of the evidence gathered during its investigation of the flood control controversy. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Tuesday turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman two luxury vehicles belonging to dismissed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer Brice Hernandez.

Hernandez surrendered the black GMC Yukon Denali and a navy blue Lamborghini Urus Performante to the ICI on Sept. 19 and Sept. 24, respectively.

The ICI said the turnover was in line with the commission’s submission to the Ombudsman of all documents and pieces of evidence that were gathered during its investigation of alleged anomalies in flood control and other government infrastructure projects.

Created by President Marcos through Executive Order No. 99 on Sept. 11 last year, the ICI wrapped up its operations on March 31.

“The Commission is hopeful that the turnover of these vehicles will further aid the Office of the Ombudsman with its ongoing investigation, and also support its restitution for the benefit of the Filipino people,” the ICI said in a letter addressed to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.

Hernandez, a former assistant district engineer of the DPWH’s Bulacan first district engineering office, had said the surrender of his GMC Yukon Denali was done “as a sign of good faith.” He also turned over his Lamborghini to the ICI after he alleged that he delivered P1 billion in alleged kickbacks from flood control projects implemented by his office to dismissed House Rep. Zaldy Co.

Key figure

Hernandez is one of the primary figures in the flood control controversy after the Commission on Audit reports uncovered anomalies in numerous flood control projects that were implemented by his office. Some of the projects turned out to be nonexistent or substandard.

Hernandez later implicated several lawmakers, including Co and Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva, in the scheme. The former DPWH official and several others, including former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., are facing graft and malversation charges before the Sandiganbayan in connection with a P92-million “ghost” flood control project in Bulacan.