00:00The credibility of former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, a state witness, is in question.
00:06This following the surfacing of him allegedly receiving a balato, or tip, worth 10 million pesos from a former lawmaker.
00:15The Department of Justice provides clarification in this RR Tubise report.
00:21The Department of Justice, or DOJ, clarified that the testimony of former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo
00:29before the Sandigan Bayan has no effect on the plunder cases currently under investigation by the DOJ
00:35also related to alleged anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan.
00:39This comes after it surfaced during the hearing that he allegedly received a balato worth 10 million pesos from former
00:46Representative Zaldico.
00:48However, this involves a separate case concerning flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro.
00:54When asked whether this could affect his credibility as a state witness,
00:58the DOJ said the cases are separate and involve different projects under investigation.
01:03The DOJ also explained that testimonies of witness are evaluated solely based on evidence
01:08submitted in each specific hearing and investigation.
01:11People siya affected. Wala pong crossover, if you may, na nangyayari dito.
01:15Each preliminary investigation proceeding, each WPP state witness proceeding
01:22is confined to the evidence submitted to these particular proceedings.
01:26So kung ano lang po na isumite sa mga handling officers or prosecutors in these proceedings,
01:33yun lang po ang pupwede nilang tingnan.
01:35Meanwhile, the DOJ has already endorsed to the Ombudsman the findings of prosecutors
01:40on the malversation complaints filed against Senator Joel Villanueva
01:44in connection with the alleged ghost flood control projects in Bulacan.
01:48According to the DOJ, out of the six cases reviewed, the senator is implicated in three complaints
01:54related to projects carried out by contractors Wawa Builders and Top-Notch Catalyst Builders, Inc.
02:01Villanueva is facing accusations of malversation, violation of Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act,
02:07direct bribery, corruption of public officials, and the violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act.
02:12The senator was linked to the controversy involving former Bulacan 1st District Engineer Henry Alcantara in September 2025.
02:20Villanueva has earlier denied the allegations and said he has nothing to hide.
02:24The Justice Department explained that the Ombudsman has jurisdiction over cases involving government officials
02:30with salary grade 27 and above.
02:32Sinimulan lang po dito yung investigation because alam po natin na deputized ang DOJ prosecutors
02:37by the Office of the Ombudsman pursuant sa Memorano of Agreement ng Ombudsman and DOJ.
02:44Pero at the end of the day, kailangan po i-transmit, i-endorse itong mga cases na ito sa Office
02:50of the Ombudsman
02:50para po sila ang magkasarili nilang assessment kung talagang worth filing in court.
02:56R.R. Tubise from the National TV Network for a New and Better Philippines.
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