Ex-DPWH Usec. Bernardo drags more lawmakers, officials in alleged flood control scam
A former undersecretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways has dragged new names into the alleged flood control scam during his second appearance before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Friday, Nov. 14.
DPWH Usec. Roberto Bernardo claimed that former senators Grace Poe, Sonny Angara (now Education Secretary), and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada benefited from flood control projects.
During the hearing led by Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson, Bernardo narrated that JY dela Rosa, allegedly a staff member of Poe, coordinated with him in 2024, asking if the latter could be included in the 2025 national expenditure program.
“[Former DPWH Sec.] Bonoan told me there is a P500 million for Senator Grace Poe,” Bernardo said, adding that 20% commitment has been collected for the former senator.
A contractor known as “Mrs. Patron” allegedly collected Poe’s supposed kickbacks at the Diamond Hotel.
Bernardo also said he transacted with Department of Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar during Angara's budget deliberations, when he chaired the finance committee, which handles the national budget.
“Usec. Trygve and I also had transactions concerning Sen. Angara between 2019 and 2024, where Usec. Trygve received deliveries representing 12% of the projects of Sen. Sonny Angara when the latter was chairman of finance,” he said.
Bernardo also recalled discussions with Olaivar regarding the Special Allotment Release Order issued for the Office of the Executive Secretary, which included Central Luzon and Bulacan projects worth PHP2.85 billion.
Estrada was implicated once more, accused of soliciting P500 million and an 18% budget commitment from Bonoan in 2024. The senator then allegedly asked him for another amount to complete P1 billion worth of projects.
"Senator Jinggoy said, ‘Tulungan mo na lang ako diyan kasi marami pa akong tutulungan sa eleksyon.’ I replied, “Ok na ba ang 25%, Sen?’ Sen. Jinggoy responded, ‘Okay na ang 25%,’" Bernardo said, referring to the commitment that Estrada allegedly received, which amounted to P213 million.
Bernardo's affidavit, read in the hearing, also recounted his earlier allegations against Senators Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., and now Makati Mayor Nancy Binay, whose staff allegedly coordinated with him on project lists or received supposed commitments from DPWH projects. He has previously named the solons in a Sept. 25 hearing.
Bernardo also said infrastructure projects were released in the districts of Rep. Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy and Rep. Florida Robes.
Ombudsman, ICI raps
This Friday, several criminal charges were filed against Escudero.
Atty. Marvin Aceron filed the complaint after a 2021 Commission on Audit report flagged potential malversation amounting to around P352.7 million in public funds.
Graft, technical malversation, falsification, fraud, and grave misconduct were also filed against Sorsogon officials under Escudero's governorship. The complaint contained eight "questionable" transactions allegedly made by the Sorsogon government.
The raps are on top of Escudero's other allegations, including a P30 million campaign donation from top flood contractor, Centerways Construction, along with the earlier alleged kickbacks and budget insertions.
The ICI has already sought plunder and bribery cases against senators Estrada and Joel Villanueva over the anomalous projects in Bulacan.
Lawmakers, officials, deny involvement
Hours after the hearing, Angara was quick to deny any involvement of his office in questionable infrastructure deals.
“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,” he said in a statement on X.
Binay, Escudero, and Revilla have earlier denied their part in the alleged flood control corruption in separate statements.
