Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo yesterday implicated more high-ranking officials and lawmakers in alleged kickback schemes tied to flood control and infrastructure projects.
He submitted a second supplemental affidavit during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, wherein he claimed to have facilitated illicit transactions involving Department of Education undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, former DPWH secretary and now Senator Mark Villar, former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan, and former DPWH undersecretary for Planning Maria Catalina Cabral.
He also claimed to have arranged kickbacks for Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Francis Escudero, as well as for former Senators Nancy Binay, Ramon Revilla, and Grace Poe.
“I reiterate my deep remorse and guilt for what I have done, and I am now animated by an honest desire to help rectify the institutional defects in the systems and operations not only of DPWH but also other government agencies and help in developing lasting and meaningful reforms,” Bernardo said.
In his affidavit, he recalled first working with Olaivar in 2010 when the latter was still a staff member of then-senator Ramon Revilla Jr.
Olaivar was a “common figure” in budget deliberations and later worked under the late Senator Edgardo Angara and his son, former senator and now Education Secretary Sonny Angara, the former undersecretary further claimed.
Bernardo alleged that between 2019 and 2024, Olaivar received deliveries representing 12 percent of certain projects when Secretary Angara was chair of the Senate Finance Committee.
He recounted discussions with Olaivar regarding the Special Allotment Release Order issued for the Office of the Executive Secretary, which included projects worth P2.85 billion allegedly intended for Central Luzon and the 1st District Engineering Office of Bulacan.
As for Cabral, Bernardo claimed that she exercised significant influence over NEP preparations and DPWH budgeting.
He claimed that Cabral, with Villar’s blessing, would ask him to prepare detailed project lists, including major road and EDSA maintenance allocations, and to submit lump-sum funding proposals.
Bernardo alleged that commissions for approved projects during the period were divided as follows: 50 percent for Carlo Aguilar, identified as a cousin of Villar; 25 percent for Cabral; and 25 percent for himself.
Similarly, he claimed to have prepared a project list for Revilla with 25 percent kickbacks totaling P125 million, allegedly delivered to the former senator’s Bacoor, Cavite residence in six cardboard boxes and a paper bag.
He further claimed an additional P250 million was delivered to Revilla in February 2025 for national campaign support.
“Because of our close relationship, Senator Revilla had asked for my assistance on several matters,” said Bernardo.
The former DPWH official also said Binay, through her aide Carleen Yap-Villa, received 12 percent commitments for projects in 2022 and 2023, while P500 million was allocated under the 2025 National Expenditure Program.
Bernardo further revealed that he facilitated collections for Estrada, with projects worth P500 million in 2023 under an 18 percent commitment, and followed up to complete the pledged 25 percent.
“I met Senator Jinggoy Estrada through the social circles of Senator Bong Revilla. We usually had encounters during social gatherings of people in the movie industry,” he said.
As for Escudero, Bernardo claimed he coordinated project lists and collections through businessman Maynard Ngu, including P160 million and P120 million deliveries in early 2025.
“When Senator Chiz Escudero became Senate President in 2024, Maynard Ngu approached me and asked for a list of projects. The complete list of projects for Senator Chiz Escudero is worth P1.4 billion with 20% commitment,” he said.
However, incumbent and former senators vehemently denied the allegations.
Poe said she was disheartened by the allegation and added that she was surprised her name surfaced in the hearing.
“I support the investigations, that is why I was the first to attend the proceedings,” she argued, referencing her cooperation with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
Villar also rejected the accusations and warned the public not to treat affidavits as conclusive evidence, saying such documents can be shaped to serve certain interests.
“I stand by my untarnished record as a long-serving public servant as a Representative, DPWH Secretary, and Senator of this Republic,” he said.
Binay, who now serves as Makati mayor, said she has no involvement in any irregular Public Works projects and added that no former Senate staffer of hers would have had the authority to engage in such dealings.
“I will not allow lies such as this to distract my focus in serving the people of Makati,” she said.
Likewise, Estrada appeared unfazed by the renewed allegations and said he was not surprised that his name was mentioned again in connection with supposed payouts from department contracts.
Revilla responded to the allegation by saying he remains confident that the truth will emerge as the inquiry progresses.
For his part, Escudero reacted to the latest allegations through a statement issued through his lawyer, Ramon Esguerra.
“Bernardo’s claims against Senator Chiz are not new. These allegations have been denied and refuted before. There is no direct evidence presented in the testimony of Bernardo linking Senator Chiz to any criminal act… These are at best hearsay, lack basis, and are self-serving statements that will not stand in any court of law,” Escudero’s camp said.
With Maricel V. Cruz
Secretary Angara denied Bernardo’s allegations linking his office to irregularities in infrastructure projects, saying he was involved in any form of corruption throughout his public service.
“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,” Angara said in a statement.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III directed several lawmakers to skip Friday’s Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing to avoid prejudicing a separate investigation by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
“The House of Representatives shares the Senate’s commitment to truth and accountability, and respects the oversight functions of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. [However] Subjecting them [House members] to a simultaneous legislative inquiry on the identical subject could potentially prejudice the findings of the ICI,” he wrote to panel chairman, Senator Panfilo Lacson. (with Maricel V. Cruz)
