Photos Tie Villanueva, Estrada to Alleged DPWH Kickbacks

Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan assistant district engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez and his aide JP Mendoza presented photos and screenshots to the House Committee on Public Works and Highways during a hearing on Tuesday, September 9. Hernandez and Mendoza said the materials link Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada to an alleged kickback scheme connected to DPWH projects.

According to the testimony given at the hearing, the items submitted included digital screenshots of SMS and Viber messages; photographs of public events showing Estrada with businessman Allan Alcantara; and images of bundles of cash that the witnesses said were prepared for delivery to politicians.

Mendoza told the committee that some of the screenshots were captured because the messages were disappearing from the device identified by the witnesses. The testimony presented to lawmakers included descriptions of exchanges that the witnesses said involved requests for additional multi-purpose buildings in Bulacan.

Senators’ Responses

Both Senator Villanueva and Senator Estrada have issued public denials of involvement in the alleged scheme. Each has responded to the allegations through statements made public prior to and following the hearing.

Committee Proceedings and Status

The House committee received the materials and reviewed the images and screenshots as part of the ongoing inquiry into alleged irregularities in DPWH projects. The session included testimony from Hernandez and Mendoza describing how the items came into their possession and the reasons they believed the images were relevant to the investigation.

The hearing was one step in a continuing legislative inquiry. Committee members indicated that the presentation of the materials would form part of the record and that further procedural steps would follow as the investigation continues.

Background: Broader DPWH Investigations

The hearing is tied to a wider inquiry into alleged irregularities in DPWH flood control and infrastructure contracts, particularly in Bulacan. Previous hearings and public statements have focused on claims of “ghost projects,” repeated identical contract amounts, and a concentration of contract awards among certain contractors. Those allegations prompted earlier probes and public scrutiny of procurement practices and contractor relationships.

The presentation by former DPWH personnel Hernandez and Mendoza adds new material to the record by connecting images and messages to specific individuals and projects. That material was introduced to the committee as part of efforts to identify potential irregularities and responsible parties.

Next Steps in the Inquiry

The House committee plans to continue its investigation. Additional witnesses and documentation are expected to be called and reviewed in forthcoming sessions. Lawmakers have signaled that they will examine procurement records and related documents tied to the contracts in question, and that the investigation will proceed according to the committee’s established procedures.

At this point, the matter remains under investigation and unresolved. The materials presented on September 9 are part of the committee’s evidence pool; whether they will be corroborated by further testimony or documentary records will be determined in subsequent hearings and reviews.