Testimony by former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo before the Senate has reinforced findings of a long-running corruption scheme in flood control projects, as Malacañang, the Commission on Audit (COA), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) separately weighed in on the expanding investigation.
Bernardo told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Monday night that a scheme involving lawmakers, DPWH officials, and contractors existed during his time in government, corroborating conclusions earlier reached by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
Meanwhile, Malacañang expressed confidence that former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan would give “truthful testimony” as the Senate inquiry continued.
Also, the COA reported Tuesday that it has filed four fraud audit reports involving more than P325 million worth of flood control projects in Bulacan.
The commission said the projects, implemented by the DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office and awarded to two contractors, showed indicators of systemic misuse of public funds, including ghost projects, unauthorized site relocations, and questionable claims of completion.
The PNP, meanwhile, said it will assist in revalidating flood control projects amid reports of incorrect grid coordinates.
PNP acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said Tuesday police investigators are working with the ICI to verify project locations and compliance.
The ICI, created by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last September, filed administrative and criminal complaints last October before the Office of the Ombudsman against several former and incumbent officials, including Bernardo himself and some legislators.
However, the President believes Bonoan – who stepped down from the DPWH last September as the scandal erupted — will “tell the truth, especially since he is under oath in the Senate,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said.
“Lahat po ng kailangan natin ay umasa na ang mga katotohanan lamang ang kaniyang sasabihin (All we need is to hope that they will tell nothing but the truth),” Castro said.
The President has not issued a personal statement on Bonoan’s testimony and is being briefed on developments by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, the Palace spokesperson added.
During the Blue Ribbon hearing, Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito asked Bernardo to explain allegations that infrastructure projects were being “sold” in Congress.
Bernardo confirmed that such arrangements took place in the House of Representatives, describing a system where project proponents coordinated with regional directors and district engineers to identify and release projects in specific areas.
“Kung sino ang nag-release ng proyekto, sila ang may karapatan sa proyekto,” Bernardo said, adding that contractors and local officials were approached to implement projects once allocations were identified.
(Whoever had the project released [for funding], they had the right [to a share of the funds].)
Bernardo declined to name specific individuals, but said the arrangement was part of the system he was familiar with.
“Ang pagkakaalam ko po, kapag mayroon pong ganito (As far as I know, when this happens), the proponent asks of course the help of the regional directors and district engineers about projects to be released in their own districts or regions,” he said.
“So, after that, meron pong pinaka-proponent at itatawag doon, ‘pag tinawag doon at sasabihin na ito ang nag-release ng proyekto,” Bernardo explained.
(There would be a lead proponent, and someone would call the department and tell us that this person helped release [funds for] the project.)
He said the scheme worked by targeting DPWH District Engineers or Regional Directors. When a project was awarded to an outside contractor, local contractors would approach these officials to intervene.
They would then negotiate so that the local firm could take over the work instead of the original proponent, Bernardo added.
The ICI earlier recommended charges against several officials, including Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, Commission on Audit Commissioner Mario Lipana, and former Caloocan Rep. Mitch Cajayon-Uy.
The commission said the alleged violations may include bribery, graft, and plunder.
As for the Bulacan projects, COA said several DPWH officials and contractor representatives may face charges for graft, malversation, and falsification of public documents.
According to the ICI, the scheme often centered on flood control projects because of higher kickbacks, estimated at up to 30 percent.
Once projects were inserted into the National Expenditure Program or the General Appropriations Act, contractors would advance payments to proponents to secure project awards.
Meanwhile, Castro said correcting errors in project records, including location inconsistencies flagged by investigators, falls within the DPWH’s mandate.
“We just need to correct it so that the real culprits will be held liable,” she said, noting that no directive has been issued for a full reinvestigation absent verified data.
On the dubious flood control projects in Bulacan, auditors cited findings based on physical inspections, drone surveillance, geotagged photos, and satellite imagery.
These include instances where no structures were found at declared project sites and cases where riverbank protections appeared to predate the contracts.
To support the investigation, Nartatez said: “This is part of our commitment… to assist in the search for truth and accountability.”
The police are ready to provide technical, engineering, and forensic support, he added.
Combined police and military teams have already inspected more than 10,000 flood control projects nationwide, though officials acknowledged that some sites may need to be revisited to resolve discrepancies.
