Lacson to recommend criminal raps vs Jinggoy, Villanueva, if...

The Senate Blue Ribbon committee will not hesitate to recommend criminal charges against Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada if evidence presented by sacked Bulacan district engineer Brice Hernandez proves that the two benefited from alleged budget insertions in flood control projects, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon committee chair Panfilo Lacson said yesterday.

- NEIL JAYSON SERVALLOS

Lacson confirmed that Hernandez returned to the Senate in Pasay City at 6 p.m. on Saturday carrying boxes of documents and a computer, which the engineer believes could prove his allegations against Villanueva and Estrada as well as several other lawmakers and government officials.

Asked if he would recommend the criminal indictment of Estrada and Villanueva if the evidence is solid, Lacson replied, “That's true, because we already have an ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure). Immediately, even if our hearing is not over and there's no committee report yet, I will send any evidence to the ICI so their investigation will be easier." Hernandez, who is under Senate custody after being cited in contempt, was allowed to leave briefly at 6 a.m. on Saturday to retrieve documents and a computer from his home in Bulacan.

According to Lacson, the evidence has been sealed and will undergo proper procedures to preserve the chain of custody before being presented in hearings.

He said once the materials are processed, they could be presented as early as tomorrow (Tuesday), during which the next Blue Ribbon hearing is scheduled to resume.