00:00Former Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo took the stand as a witness in the ongoing investigation
00:07into alleged anomalous flood control projects.
00:10Bernardo revealed that he allegedly received millions in kickbacks from former ACOBICOL representative Zaldi Co.
00:17Our Rod Lagosad has the full details in this report.
00:22Former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo testified that he received allegedly 130 million pesos in balato or token of gratitude from
00:32former ACOBICOL representative Zaldi Co.
00:34as one of the witnesses of the prosecution in the ongoing hearing of the Sandigan Bayan 6th Division on the
00:40flood control issue.
00:41This is in connection with a malversation case due to an alleged substandard flood control project in Auan Oriental, Mindoro.
00:48Included here is the alleged 10 million pesos he received annually from 2023 to 2025 from former DPWH Memoropa Regional
00:57Director General Paganan,
00:58who he said claimed that the money came from Co.
01:01According to Bernardo, he never personally saw Paganan handover the money.
01:06Bernardo added that the payments were made during the third quarter of each of those years.
01:11When asked by the court whether he was expected to do anything in return for the money,
01:15he said he was afraid, which is why he accepted it, especially since it could be considered an obstacle to
01:21them.
01:22He also allegedly received 40 million pesos each in 2023 and 2024 and 20 million pesos in 2025.
01:29He said that former DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office District Engineer Henry Alcantara,
01:35who is also a state witness, gave the money to him and told him that it allegedly came from Co.
01:42According to Bernardo, there were no specific instructions given to him regarding this.
01:46He said that if he did not accept it, he could have been put in danger.
01:50We hope that when he takes on the stand in the Sandigan Bayan,
01:54that he's able to relay all the information that he has given to us to the court as well.
01:59Ito po yung sinasabi, ito po yung hinahandaan namin dito sa Office of the Ombudsman
02:04para pagdating po niya sa Sandigan Bayan, may sabi rin niya lahat ng nalalaman niya.
02:11The Office of the Ombudsman is hopeful that Bernardo will disclose everything he knows.
02:16Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano emphasized that substance is important when it comes to cases.
02:21In relation to Bernardo's testimony,
02:23Alam naman ho natin na hindi lahat ay dumadaan sa banko.
02:27A lot of the transactions between and amongst the perpetrators in this case are really cash-based.
02:33So to hear that from a person who was centered in the method or scheme
02:39is very important for us to follow the money and follow the trail of money.
02:43Clavano explained accepting a state witness is done on a case-to-case basis.
02:48Never do we give a blanket immunity to people.
02:51Ang ibig po sabihin yan ay kung meron siyang alam tungkol sa isang kaso
02:58and one transaction na willing siya magbigay ng information all the way up to the most guilty,
03:05he will be immune as to that case only.
03:09He said it would not be fair if there was information that was not disclosed,
03:13particularly if he was involved and identified as the most guilty as he must be charged in the particular case.
03:19Rod Lagused from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
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