Sacked officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan First District Engineering Office have requested to be placed under 'house arrest.'

According to Senate President Tito Sotto, the petition was submitted by former District Engineer Henry Alcantara, along with engineers Brice Hernandez and JP Mendoza. RH Raymund Dadpaas reported that the Senate, however, has not released a copy of their letter, saying it is part of privileged communication.

In the submitted letter, the three former officials expressed their preference for house arrest rather than continued detention at the Senate premises. Sotto told the reporters that the matter will be discussed by the senators once Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Acting Chairman Erwin Tulfo returns to the country.

The former DPWH officials are currently detained at the Senate after being cited in contempt for allegedly lying during Senate hearings.

Hernandez was cited in contempt on September 8, while Alcantara and Mendoza were cited on September 18.

The trio, who were previously dismissed from their positions at DPWH, had previously named several politicians allegedly involved in anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan.

Aside from them, contractor Curlee Discaya remains in Senate custody after being similarly cited in contempt. He did not make the same request. However, his lawyer has filed a habeas corpus petition challenging the legality of his detention, but the Senate has maintained that the contempt order falls within its constitutional authority.

Aside from the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), which is currently investigating the controversial flood control scam, the Blue Ribbon also conducting probe on the alleged anomalies.