Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

ABS-CBN News

<div><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XKNVP-gcn78" title="LIVE: Senate Blue Ribbon Committee resumes hearing on anomalous flood control projects | Sept 25" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>MANILA (2nd UPDATE) — Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo on Thursday  accused former Senate president Francis Escudero, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, and formers senators Bong Revilla and Nancy Binay of accepting kickbacks from infrastructure projects. </p><div><strong>CO</strong></div><p>Bernardo alleged Co negotiated kickbacks through former Bulacan engineer Henry Alcantara. </p><p>&quot;Engineer Alcantara then told me that Cong. Zaldy Co was asking for a 25 percent commission. Out of that amount, 2 percent was to be shared equally between Engineer Alcantara and myself,&quot; Bernardo said. </p><p>&quot;Furthermore, Engineer Alcantara would tell me every time that he made deliveries of cash to Cong. Zaldy Co in compliance to his commitment,” he added. </p><div><strong>ESCUDERO</strong></div><p><strong></strong>Bernardo said he and Escudero were friends with the senator&#x27;s campaign donor Maynard Ngu. </p><p>The former DPWH executive said Ngu asked him submit a list of projects, including those in Valenzuela and Marinduque, which were later included in the General Appropriations Act. </p><p>&quot;When I gave him the list and in relation to the commitment, I asked him, ‘Boss, paano to?&#x27; Maynard replied, ‘Bahala ka na.’ I asked, ‘Boss, okay na ba ang 20 percent?’ Maynard said okay. After inclusion of the projects in the GAA, I delivered 20 percent of approximately 800 million or abut P160 million to Maynard Gnu, which was meant for Senator Escudero,&quot; Bernardo said. </p><div><strong>REVILLA, BINAY</strong></div><p>Bernardo said that he personally met with then Sen. Bong Revilla in 2024 wherein he was asked for a &quot;commitment,&quot; intended for his senatorial bid the following year. Bernardo said he delivered P150 million to Revilla&#x27;s house in Cavite.</p><p>The former DPWH executive claimed that he met with an aide of former Sen. Nancy Binay who also asked for &quot;commitment.&quot; He said he delivered P37 million to Binay&#x27;s house in Quezon City.</p><div><strong>APOLOGY</strong></div><p>“Ako po ay umaamin sa aking maling nagawa. Ako po ay hindi naging matatag at tapat sa pagpapatupad ng tungkulin na ipinagkitawala ng ating pamahalaan at sambayanan,” Bernardo said. </p><p>“Taos puso at puno ng pagsisi na ako po ay humihingi ng kapatawaran sa ating Diyos, sa ating bansa at mga kababayan, gayudin sa aking pamilya, mga kaibigan at lahat ng aking binigo. Nakagawa po ako ng pagkakamali at pinuhintulutan ko po ang aking sarili na maging kasangkapan sa pagpapatupad ng isang masamang gawain,” he added.</p><p>Bernardo asked the Senate to endorse his application as a state witness, saying he was &quot;fearful of what effects my disclosures will have on my family’s safety and well-being.&quot; </p><p>Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla asked the panel to allow his agency to evaluate Bernardo’s allegations.</p><p>“This matter has to be done because oft he gravity of the situation and the fact that we may have to really work overtime…so that we can preserve the monies and other things that are involved in this discussion,” he said. </p>

<p>Roberto Bernardo, the former <b>DPWH undersecretary accused of accepting kickbacks in flood control projects, admitted wrongdoing on Thursday. </b></p>

Roberto Bernardo, the former DPWH undersecretary accused of accepting kickbacks in flood control projects, admitted wrongdoing on Thursday.

Ex-DPWH exec Roberto Bernardo tags Escudero, Co, Revilla, Binay in kickbacks

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Ex-DPWH exec Roberto Bernardo tags Escudero, Co, Revilla, Binay in kickbacks

Jamaine Punzalan,

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 25, 2025 09:16 AM PHT

|

Updated September 26, 2025 07:22 PM PHT

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DPWH

corruption

flood control

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