Brice Hernandez and 6 Others Plead Not Guilty
Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Assistant Engineer Brice Hernandez and six other former DPWH officials pleaded not guilty to graft charges over an alleged P77-million ghost flood control project in Balagtas, Bulacan.
Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza, Arjay Domasig, Niño Lawrence Morales, Juanito Mendoza, Floralyn Simbulan, and Christina Mae Pineda entered their pleas before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Wednesday.
The case involves a flood control project awarded to SYMS Construction Trading. According to the Office of the Ombudsman, the project was started in February 2025 and was declared 100% complete on May 2, 2025. However, an inspection found that the supposed flood control structure did not exist at the project site.
Three other accused individuals have yet to be arraigned because they remain at large. Two of them were identified as staff members of former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, who is also linked to the case.
During the hearing, the defense questioned the case information because it stated that no bail was recommended. The defense pointed out that graft is a bailable offense. Prosecutors then asked the court to amend the case information and set bail at P90,000.
The court also gave four DPWH personnel who are currently on floating status 10 days to explain why they should not be placed under preventive suspension.
The seven accused are already detained because they are also facing separate graft and malversation charges involving another alleged ghost flood control project worth P92.8 million in Pandi, Bulacan. Authorities said the Pandi project also had no actual structure at the reported site.
All seven previously pleaded not guilty to related malversation charges before the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division. Some of the accused, including Hernandez, Domasig, Pineda, and the two Mendozas, are also facing separate graft and malversation cases linked to the alleged Pandi ghost project.
