Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - ACT Teachers Party List Rep. Antonio Tinio challenged former Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin on Monday to belie his statements on the alleged record of communication between Bersamin and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. regarding supposed kickbacks from infrastructure projects.Tinio issued the statement following observations that his allegations are mere “hearsay” and “have no evidentiary value”, unless the supposed communication is confirmed by Bersamin.(09:28) “Ilang araw nang nasa balita ang pangalan niya, ngunit kahit isang salita, wala tayong narinig sa kanya. Again, hinahamon ko si Usec. Adrian Bersamin, magsalita ka. So kung gusto mong i-deny, you&#x27;re very welcome to deny. Nag-aantay po ang publiko. Basta nakita ko ang nakita ko, at tingin ko may kailangan kang ipaliwanag. So please explain to the public,” the ACT Teachers solon said.“Susi ang papel niya… between the kickbacks and the President… Pero pansinin natin sa anumang imbestigasyon, whether sa Blue Ribbon, sa Ombudsman, sa ICI, hindi talaga siya pinapaharap. Dine-dedma lang siya. Indikasyon ito para sa akin, na kailangang imbestigahan talaga siya at mukhang pinoprotektahan,” he added.<div> </div><div>“AUTHENTIC”</div>Tinio stood by the authenticity and credibility of the record of communication he saw from a video shown to him by Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste, saying there are other messages there that may only be privy to the President and Bersamin. “’Yung messages are from December 2024 to July 2025, mahabang exchanges po ito. So hindi lang isa o dalawang mensahe. At ‘yung topics, hindi lang puro tungkol sa flood control or kickbacks, may mga iba pa. Kaya sinabi namin mukhang authentic talaga, dahil maraming ibang detalye rito,” Tinio said.“Pareho ‘yung nakita namin ni Congressman Erice. So, talagang nabasa namin ‘yung exchange of messages. I&#x27;m just saying… hindi ko directly nahawakan ‘yung telepono ni Usec,” Tinio noted.He said Leviste showed him the alleged record of communication between Bersamin and Marcos from his computer a day before the Makabayan solons endorsed the impeachment complaint against the President, but Leviste did not give Tinio a copy of the recording. Tinio said Leviste again called for a meeting after the House Justice Committee declared the impeachment complaint against Marcos insufficient in substance. But the ACT Teachers solon said Leviste later decided not to go public with the messages, and let Bersamin do it himself.“Congressman Leviste approached me and asked for a meeting… the day before we filed the complaint… tapos ipinakita niya… So that was the first time. Tapos after that, noong nagkaroon na ng boto sa Justice Committee na ‘yung insufficient in substance, tumawag ulit at nag-request na mag-imbita pa ng iba… Diyan na na-involve si Congressman Erice at iba pa. Tapos, several meetings after that, nag-uusap na ilalabas niya bago magkaroon ng plenary deliberation on the Committee Report. Kaya lang, at the very last minute, umatras. Bakit umatras? Ang dahilan na binabanggit niya ay concerned siya kay Usec. Bersamin, at mas gugustuhin na lang daw niya na kusang ilabas ni Usec. Bersamin,” Tinio narrated.“Aware tayo doon sa mga ibang motives ng ibang players dito, including Congressman Leviste. Alam naman natin mayroon siyang ongoing case regarding his solar business. Also, isa pang dahilan kung bakit nag-decide din ako na i-disclose sa publiko ‘yung ipinakita sa akin, para rin maging malinaw sa lahat na maaaring mayroong ganitong information na hawak siya, pero ayaw niyang i-disclose… (16:46) Maaaring imbestigahan ito kung gusto natin talagang matumbok ‘yung mga pinaka-responsible (sa flood control anomaly),” he added.ABS-CBN News previously asked Leviste to confirm Tinio and Erice’s statements. He issued this response:“Sa mga nagtatanong kung totoo bang may hawak akong iba pang ebidensiya kaya pinakiusapan akong mag-abroad, maaari ninyong panoorin ang mga pahayag nina Reps. Antonio Tinio at Egay Erice. Hindi ako magbibigay ng bagong pahayag; Maaaring tingnan na lamang itong nakaraang post ko. Mula sa aking post: Lalabas ang ebidensiyang nagpapakita ng pagtanggap ng kickbacks sa tamang panahon. Ang “tamang panahon” ay darating kapag ang may alam tungkol sa mga maanomalyang DPWH projects at kung sino ang nakatanggap ng kickbacks ay handa nang magsalita—at mangyayari ito kung ramdam nila na susuportahan at poprotektahan sila ng taumbayan kapag ibahagi nila ang katotohanan.”Malacañang has denied any allegation of corruption against the president.

ACT Teachers Party List Rep. Antonio Tinio challenged former Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin on Monday to belie his statements on the alleged record of communication between Bersamin and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. regarding supposed kickbacks from infrastructure projects.

ACT Teachers Party List Rep. Antonio Tinio challenged former Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin on Monday to belie his statements on the alleged record of communication between Bersamin and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. regarding supposed kickbacks from infrastructure projects.

Tinio dares Bersamin to deny 'communication' with Marcos on alleged infra kickbacks

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Tinio dares Bersamin to deny 'communication' with Marcos on alleged infra kickbacks

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 16, 2026 05:13 PM PHT

Read More:

Adrian Bersamin

Antonio Tinio

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

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.