Brice Hernandez pleads not guilty in 2nd malversation case

MANILA, Philippines — Former Department of Public Works (DPWH) engineer Brice Hernandez on Tuesday pleaded not guilty in his second malversation case in the Sandiganbayan. 

Hernandez, along with former DPWH officials Arjay Domasig, Jaypee Mendoza, Juanito Mendoza, Christina Mae Pineda, Niño Morales,  and Floralyn Simbulan, made the plea before the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division.

LIST: Big names, others arrested in flood control scandal

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This division handles the malversation case over the alleged non-existent riverbank protection structure worth ₱77 million in Bulacan’s Balagtas town built by Sunwest, founded by former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co. 

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Co’s staff John Paul Estrada and Mark Tecsay remain at large.

For his part, Co could not participate in the proceedings as he was earlier declared by Sandiganbayan as a fugitive from justice. 

A respondent declared as a fugitive from justice could not  participate in the proceedings and could not seek any judicial relief unless they surrender voluntarily.

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This is Co’s second malversation case, the first one being over a P289.4 million worth project in Oriental Mindoro’s Naujan town which prosecutors said was found to have serious structural deficiencies. 

Aside from Hernandez and Co, this is also the second malversation case of Domasig, both Mendozas and Pineda. 

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Their first malversation case is handled by the Third Division over the alleged ghost flood control project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bulacan’s Pandi town worth P92.8 million with former Sen. Bong Revilla as co-accused. Revilla is out on a P1 million bail. /mr