And while A & Y was one of the top suppliers to the BDF, a company named Hugo Engineering and Construction Services was so minor that it hardly merited mention. That is until last night when we became aware that this construction company is partly owned by the Prime Minister's little brother. So how did it end up supplying meat to the BDF? Well, that remains a mystery tonight. Jules Vasquez reports:
Weeks ago when I reviewed the leaked BDF tender documents for 2023 - 2024, looking at all the company names what jumped out at me was this: Hugo Engineering and Construction Services Limited.
Now, what was a construction company doing supplying beef, pork and chicken to the BDF? Odd.
In a 12 million dollar budget, Hugo Engineering was one of the smaller suppliers so we didn't follow up on it.
It didn't come together until yesterday evening when I received this leak, telling me who the owners of that company are: two of them are the Prime Minister's brother, Javier Briceno and his girlfriend Addy Ku.
And then it made sense - even if it doesn't make sense to have an engineering company supplying meat to soldiers.
A BDF whistleblower who has stepped forward is the ex-commanding officer for the services and support battalion, which is in charge of processing BDF supplies. He told us his experience.
Jules Vasquez:
"Because I'm saying why is an engineering company providing rations? Is this indicative of the type of malaise?"
BDF Whistleblower, Ex Commanding Officer - Services and Support battalion
"Jules, I could tell you from my experience that, this hasn't changed. You would find out that companies that, has nothing to do with a particular item find themselves providing you that item."
"One time I could recall, viewing a purchase requisition from a vendor who provided base oil, and they bake bread. Provided stationery, and they bake bread! Provided engine parts, and they bake bread!"
"That is pretty much what they have somewhat gotten accustomed to: buying things from people who don't really and truly provide it, simply because, listen, man, as I mentioned initially, there's some level of, corruption as it relates, so I'll give you the opportunity to provide this item if you probably, maybe use your butter and butter my hand, just to put it lightly."
And while we stress that this is a general observation made first-hand by this soldier, between November 2023 and August 2025 - in their own names, not the company name-Briceno and Ku received just under a quarter million dollars in payments from the Ministry of Defence.
Of the 33 payments only two were above the ten thousand dollar threshold.
The Prime Minister denied any involvement in getting the supply contracts for his brother:
Voice of: John Briceno, Minister of Defence
"Now, if you want to ask me if I know about the details of what you got or what you don't got, I really don't know. You need to speak with Javier."
Jules Vasquez:
"But were you… did you facilitate him, or had you indicated to Minister Mira or Minister Marin?"
John Briceno:
"How much did he get? How much did he get? Do you have an idea?"
Jules Vasquez:
"For a total of about $18,000, $21,000."
John Briceno:
"So you think if I facilitated, that is what you are going to get? No, I did not facilitate it."
John Briceno:
"I don't know what they got, and the investigation will show if they did any wrong they will have to answer."
Jules Vasquez:
"So she got $225,000?"
John Briceno:
"Jules, can we stop the speculations? Let us be real here, let us stop the speculations. I have told you that I don't know what it is that they got or what they didn't get. I am telling you that they are doing an investigation, and I am repeating: if anybody did anything wrong, they will have to answer. Period."
Jules Vasquez:
"Right, but you are the Prime Minister. Did you...?"
John Briceno:
"I have always taken responsibility for the entire government. If something goes wrong, at the end of the day, the buck stops with me."
Jules Vasquez:
"Did you ask Mr. Mira to help your brother? To help out Javi?"
John Briceno:
"No."
