By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — A contractor’s liaison officer told the Sandiganbayan she delivered boxes of cash to the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Bulacan office “more than 10 times” since 2021.
Monica Louis Ocampo-Santos, liaison officer of SYMS Construction, testified before the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division that the deliveries included P299 million in cash brought to the office of former DPWH Bulacan 1st District Assistant Engineer Brice Hernandez in May 2025.
“Nasa kahon po ng grocery…sa sahig po…sa gilid ng lamesa ni Engineer Brice. Binubuksan po, naka-bundle na tig-1,000,” Ocampo-Santos said.
The witness said the cash was packed in used boxes of soy sauce, junk food, noodles, and coffee. Each box had the amount written on top for Hernandez to count per bundle.
Ocampo-Santos said she was present during the actual deliveries, which were made by car by her aunt, SYMS owner Sally Santos, and another liaison officer.
When Fourth Division chair Associate Justice Michael Frederick Musngi asked how many times she delivered boxes of cash to the DPWH office in Bulacan, Ocampo-Santos replied: “More than 10 times.”
The P299 million allegedly included P74 million that Hernandez got from a P92.8-million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan, now the subject of graft and malversation cases against former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Hernandez, and five other DPWH officials.
Ocampo-Santos said the money covered five government contracts won by SYMS using a license it lent to Hernandez.
The witness presented screenshots of a May 19, 2025 conversation with Hernandez discussing the delivery schedule.
Ocampo-Santos: “Ninong, andiyan po ba kayo ng hapon para sa collection ng limang partial.”
Hernandez: “Yes, inaanak.”[bukas][payment]
She said Hernandez, Engineers Henry Alcantara and Jaypee Mendoza, and Accountant Juanito Mendoza were her godfathers during her wedding.
Separate Senate testimony from DPWH drivers said suitcases containing P30 million to P40 million each were delivered from the Bulacan district office to houses in Pasig and Quezon City. One driver admitted delivering six to eight suitcases to a Valle Verde, Pasig house allegedly linked to a lawmaker.
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure and the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee are investigating alleged ghost and substandard flood control projects in Bulacan tied to contractors Wawao Builders and SYMS Construction. Wawao bagged P5.97 billion worth of projects in Bulacan alone.
ia/xf
