A representative of WJ Construction, a contractor implicated in anomalous flood control projects, told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Thursday that she was in Sen. Erwin Tulfo’s office on August 19.
Explaining her presence on Senate CCTV footage, Mina Jose of WJ Construction said she was there to assess repair work on Tulfo’s office veranda, which the senator confirmed.
Tulfo presented the committee with copies of text conversations between his staff and Jose regarding the inspection.
Under questioning, Mina Jose denied going to the Senate to deliver kickbacks for flood control projects.
However, Jose admitted to visiting the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee office to see her friend, Beng Ramos—who has been accused by Hernandez of collecting kickbacks for Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.
Ramos was not invited to the Senate hearing due to humanitarian reasons, as she is undergoing chemotherapy for stage four cancer.
In a hearing of the House Infrastructure Committee, dismissed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan 1st district engineer Brice Hernandez implicated WJ Construction in an alleged bribery scheme to win project contracts.
Hernandez told the House panel that Sen. Estrada received a 30% commission from P355 million in Bulacan flood projects this year, and that Sen. Villanueva also received a 30% commission from P600 million in flood contracts in 2023.
Both senators have denied the allegations made against them.
