Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has accused five former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), known as the “BGC Boys” or Bulacan Group of Contractors, of squandering public funds through lavish casino gambling.
According to Lacson, the group conspired in ghost flood-control projects and lived extravagantly, purchasing luxury watches and high-end shoes while diverting taxpayer money.
Documents from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) revealed that the group collectively lost about ₱950 million in casinos. Among them, Brice Ericson Hernandez recorded the largest losses, at ₱435 million. Jaypee Mendoza followed closely, with ₱418 million.
Lacson said the transactions were not limited to heavy gambling losses. The group allegedly recorded suspicious “winning streaks” at Newport World Resorts, which raised concerns of potential money laundering schemes.
The senator also noted Hernandez’s absence during the Sept. 1 Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing. Records showed he was instead present at a casino on the same day.
The disclosure has intensified scrutiny of the DPWH and its past projects. Lacson characterized the BGC Boys as men accustomed to opulence, far removed from the realities of ordinary Filipinos.
