Marilyn Cahatol

Former DPWH Undersecretary for Operations Roberto Bernardo reads his second supplementary affidavit detailing his knowledge on the alleged anomalous flood control projects involving certain senators and government officials during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing in Pasay City on November 14, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

GHOST FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176309976442320251114-senate-dpwh-probe-roberto-bernardo-JC4365.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former DPWH Undersecretary for Operations Roberto Bernardo reads his second supplementary affidavit detailing his knowledge on the alleged anomalous flood control projects involving certain senators and government officials during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing in Pasay City on November 14, 2025.<em> Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED)</strong> — Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo on Friday tagged more officials in the flood control scandal and gave fresh details of cash deliveries he allegedly made for other personalities.</p><p>In a supplemental affidavit he read before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, Bernardo implicated former senator Grace Poe, former DWPH Sec and Sen. Mark Villar, and former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan to the flood control mess.</p><p>He also gave additional details on the transactions he’s had on the personalities he named in previous hearings.</p><p>Here is a rundown of Bernardo&#x27;s allegations.</p><div><strong>GRACE POE</strong></div><p>Bernardo claimed that sometime in the third quarter of 2024, JY De La Rosa, a supposed staff of Poe, &quot;requested Sec. Bonoan, through me, if Sen. Grace Poe, can be accommodated in the DPWH NEP (National Expenditure Program).&quot;</p><p>&quot;Sec. Bonoan told me there is a 500 million for Senator Grace Poe and instructed me to ask the Senator for a list of projects. J.Y. De La Rosa told me to coordinate the matter with Mrs. Patron, a contractor,&quot; Bernardo claimed. </p><p>He said a project in Laguna and three projects in Metro Manila were eventually &quot;included in the NEP by Sec. Bonoan through Usec. Cathy Cabral.&quot; He said the same projects later appeared in the 2025 budget. </p><p>&quot;There was a 20-percent commitment collected for Senator Grace Poe. Mrs. Patron, a contractor, collected the commitment for  Sen. Grace Poe at Diamond Hotel from one of my aides,&quot; Bernardo claimed. </p><p>Poe said the mention of her name at the hearing was &quot;alarming.&quot; </p><p>&quot;I have NEVER been involved in corruption, this I can clearly say to all Filipinos,&quot; she said. </p><p>&quot;I trust that the DOJ will look into this string of accusations. I support the investigations, that is why I was the first to attend the ICI proceedings. It’s alarming that my name was mentioned today,&quot; she added. </p><div><strong>MARK VILLAR, CATHY CABRAL, MANNY BONOAN</strong></div><p>Bernardo said he was appointed as DPWH assistant secretary in 2016 and later promoted to undersecretary, when the agency was still headed by Villar. </p><p>Bernardo claimed that funding for projects was &quot;cleared by Usec. Cabral for approval by Sec. Mark Villar.&quot;</p><p>&quot;From time to time Usec Cabral would ask me to submit detailed list of projects with regards to lump sum fund allocations of DPWH which list she sometimes would approve herself or forward to Sec. Mark Villar for approval,&quot; Bernardo said. </p><p>&quot;Among others, this included EDSA and other major roads project allocations, maintenance of creeks and waterways, etc. The commission for these approved projects was 10% and divided as follows: 50% to Carlo Aguilar presumably for Sec. Mark Villar, 25% Usec Cabral, 25% for myself,&quot; he added. </p><p>Under Bonoan&#x27;s stint as DPWH chief, Bernardo said he asked then Bulacan First District Engineer Henry Alcantara for a list of projects for possible funding, which were later included in the national budgets.</p><p>&quot;Engineer Alcantara  gave 20% of the value of the projects. With respect to the commitments collected by Engineer Alcantara narrated above. Sec Bonoan and I received a percentage,&quot; he said.</p><p>Villar said Bernardo&#x27;s accusations were a &quot;big lie.&quot;</p><p>&quot;I ask the public to be discerning and not to rush judgment based solely on a person’s affidavit, which may be manufactured or tailored fit for his or other people’s convenience,&quot; Villar said.</p><p>&quot;I stand by my untarnished record as a long-serving public servant as a Representative, DPWH Secretary, and Senator of this Republic,&quot; he added. </p><div><strong>BONG REVILLA</strong></div><p>Bernardo claimed that former senator Ramon &quot;Bong&quot; Revilla in 2024 &quot;asked me for a list of projects for funding ostensibly to help him in his national campaign.&quot;</p><p>&quot;When Senator Revilla asked me about the percentage of the commitment, I suggested either 20 or 25, to which Senator Revilla said 25 percent,&quot; he said.</p><p>Bernardo said he, Alcantara and current DPWH-National Capital Regional Engineer Gerard Opulencia prepared a list of projects amounting to P1.5 billion. </p><p>Bernardo said he delivered P125 million in six cardboard boxes, each containing at least P20 million, and one paper bag containing P5 million to Revilla’s residence in December 2024. He said he instructed his aide to deliver another P250 million to Revilla’s residence before the campaign period for the 2025 national elections began.</p><div><strong>NANCY BINAY</strong></div><p>Bernardo said he &quot;transacted&quot; with Carleen Yap-Villa, a supposed aide of former senator Nancy Binay.  </p><p>&quot;Sometime during the third to fourth quarter of 2022, Carleen requested on behalf of Sen. Binay for a list of projects worth around 1.882 billion with 12% commitment... Eventually, during the first quarter of 2023, the commitment was delivered to Carlyn for Senator Binay in several tranches in Makati and Quezon City, but I could not recall at this time the details of the deliveries, &quot; he said.</p><p>In the last quarter of 2023, he said Yap-Villa against sought a list of projects for inclusion and funding under the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA). The total list of projects initially amounted to P2.5 billion, but was reduced to P1.672 billion, he said.</p><p>“Apparently, some individuals (or group) offered Senator Binay a higher amount of commitment of 15% instead of the previous 12% with a promise that the commitment would be released much earlier,” he said.</p><p>When the individual or group failed to meet its promise, Yap-Villa requested to Bernardo a P50 million advance for “Binay’s use for the holiday season,” he said. </p><p>He added that Yap-Villa then said that “Senator Binay was expecting an increase in the commitment from 12% to 15%,&quot; which Bernardo said he agreed to fulfill.</p><p>In 2024, Binay requested again “for some allocation under the NEP (National Expenditure Program).” Bernardo said he submitted a list of projects worth nearly P3 billion, but only approximately P2.6 billion was included in the 2025 NEP.</p><p>“The total commitment collected and raised for Senator Binay was 15% of P3.120 billion, or around P468 million more or less,” he said.</p><p>Binay said she had no role in any flood control projects. </p><p>&quot;Tahimik na po tayong nagtatrabaho bilang Mayor ng Makati, at uulitin ko po: Wala po akong kinalaman, ni anumang papel, sa anumang proyekto sa flood control, at wala po akong empleyado sa senado na kayang gawin ang ibinabato sa akin,&quot; she said in a Facebook post. </p><p>&quot;I will not allow lies such as this to distract my focus in serving the people of Makati,&quot; she added.</p><div><strong>CHIZ ESCUDERO, MAYNARD NGU</strong></div><p>Bernardo said Maynard Ngu asked for a list of projects in 2024 for the then-new Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero.</p><p>He and other DPWH officials prepared a list of projects in Valenzuela, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro and Quezon City, amounting to a total of P1.4 billion with 20% commitment for Escudero.</p><p>Bernardo claimed he first delivered P160 million to Escudero in Ngu’s building in Manila, and made the second delivery of P120 million in the same place, both in early 2025.</p><p>Escudero’s camp reiterated that the allegations against the senator are “merely designed to besmirch and destroy” his reputation.</p><p>“Bernardo’s claims against Senator Chiz are not new. These allegations have been denied and and refuted before. There is no direct evidence presented in the testimony of Bernardo linking Senator Chiz to any criminal act,” Escudero’s counsel, Atty. Ramon Esguerra, said in a statement.</p><p>“Speculations and insinuations are not evidence. These are at best hearsay, lack basis, and are self-serving statements that will not stand in any court of law. We believe that these allegations are merely designed to besmirch and destroy Senator Chiz’s reputation, as well as that of the Senate,” he added.</p><div><strong>JINGGOY ESTRADA</strong></div><p>Bernardo said Sen. Jinggoy Estrada requested projects worth P500 million in 2023, but Bonoan only agreed to give P450 million for a building in NCR.</p><p>He said Cabral included the projects in the 2024 NEP “with an 18% commitment for Sen. Jinggoy.”</p><p>In the third quarter of 2024, Bernardo said Estrada requested P1 billion worth of projects for a 25 percent commitment. </p><p>&quot;The total budget for the projects which appeared in the 2025 GAA is approximately P1.45 billion, more or less. After, Engineer Opulencia collected the 25 percent commitment, approximately 360 million, and delivered the same to Diamond Hotel in Manila,&quot; he said. </p><p>Estrada denied the allegations anew.</p><p>“I vehemently deny the allegations linking me to any flood control project. The claim that I supposedly received a “percentage” from these projects is baseless, reckless, and unsupported by any credible evidence whatsoever,” he said in a statement.</p><p>“I have always acted with integrity as a legislator, and I remain committed to transparency and accountability in all my public duties. I will pursue every available legal remedy against those who persist in spreading false, defamatory, and malicious statements,” Estrada added.</p><div><strong>ZALDY CO</strong></div><p>Bernardo said he was told by Alcantara that former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co &quot;would at times deal also with Engineers Gerard Pacanan, Gerard Opulencia, and Danny Villa.&quot; </p><p>&quot;There were times Engineer Gerard Pacanan and Gerard Opulencia would give me certain amounts, supposedly from Congressman Zaldy Co,&quot; he said. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/14/why-people-tagged-in-the-flood-control-mess-still-have-valid-passports-1401">Why people tagged in the flood control mess still have valid passports</a></div><p>Co on Friday <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/14/zaldy-co-breaks-silence-on-flood-control-mess-1214">broke </a>his silence and claimed he was being used as a scapegoat in the flood control scandal. </p><div><strong>TRYGVE OLAIVAR</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, he said he and Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar “also had transactions concerning (then) Senator Sonny Angara between 2019 and 2024 where Usec. Trygve received deliveries representing 12% of the projects of Senator Sonny Angara while the latter was the Chairman of Finance.”</p><p>Angara, in a statement, denied the accusations. </p><p>&quot;We reject any insinuation made today that we were involved in anomalous projects. In my 21 years in government we have never been involved in corruption,&quot; he added.  </p><p>Bernardo added that he and Olaivar also “discussed the unprogrammed appropriations supposedly for the Executive Secretary”. Bernardo said the DPWH later received a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) that included projects worth P2.85 million.</p><p>Senators criticized Bernardo for his detailed allegations against senators, in contrast to his scant details when speaking about congressmen tagged against the flood control scandal. </p><p>&quot;On the section ng mga congressman ... very general, unlike &#x27;yung mga senators,&quot; noted Sen. Francis Pangilinan. &quot;I&#x27;m just looking at the difference, kinukumpara ko &#x27;yung testimony ninyo.&quot;</p><p>Bernardo said he has &quot;not really identified the projects&quot; linked to congressmen, but said he can do so if given more time. </p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g6XzA0zAmVs?si=eoDzYHexa-G42hO0" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div> </div>

<p>Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo on Friday tagged more officials in the food control scandal and gave fresh details of cash deliveries he allegedly made for other personalities.</p>

Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo on Friday tagged more officials in the food control scandal and gave fresh details of cash deliveries he allegedly made for other personalities.

Ex-DPWH exec Bernardo tags more officials in flood control mess

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Ex-DPWH exec Bernardo tags more officials in flood control mess

Marilyn Cahatol,

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 14, 2025 03:40 PM PHT

|

Updated November 14, 2025 06:45 PM PHT

Read More:

Senate

flood control

DPWH

Roberto Bernardo

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.