The Clash Between Terry Ridon and Jinggoy Estrada
TERRY RIDON – The Bicol Saro Partylist Representative responded to Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s claims linking him to Brice Ericson Hernandez, a former DPWH district engineer accused of involvement in the ghost flood control project controversy.
The issue started when Estrada posted a photo implying that Ridon and Hernandez attended the same school. Estrada captioned it, “Safe kaya tayo sa kanila?” and added hashtags like #BatchmateSila and #InvestigationOReunion, hinting that their alleged connection might affect the ongoing investigation.
Ridon strongly denied knowing Hernandez, saying Hernandez was never his classmate at Lourdes School of Quezon City before Ridon transferred to Ateneo. He criticized Estrada for spreading false information and stressed that the senator should have verified his claims first.
Ridon also revealed that Estrada publicly posted his grandmother’s home address, which he described as unnecessary and a potential violation of privacy. He tagged the National Privacy Commission to look into the matter, saying that exposing private details not only puts his family at risk but also distracts from the corruption investigation.
Meanwhile, Hernandez remains at the center of the controversy after testifying before the House of Representatives. In his testimony, he named several lawmakers and DPWH officials who were allegedly involved in receiving kickbacks from ghost flood control projects in Bulacan. His statements sparked tensions in Congress and raised concerns about his safety.
Hernandez was initially detained at the PNP Custodial Center. However, after expressing fear for his life—especially after naming senators, including Estrada and Senator Joel Villanueva—he was transferred to Pasay City Jail upon the Senate’s orders.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III clarified that while Hernandez would be held at the Pasay City Jail, he would remain under the Senate’s custody. Strict rules were set for his detention, allowing visits only from family members, his lawyer, and a priest. All visits must be logged for transparency.
Related Post: Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva Named by DPWH Engineer in Flood Control Scam