Ex-DPWH exec tags Chiz, Bong, Nancy in kickbacks

MANILA, Philippines —  Sen. Francis Escudero, former senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Nancy Binay as well as two other officials were the latest to be accused of involvement in flood control anomalies, this time by a former public works official who dropped the bombshell at the resumption yesterday of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing on the scandal.

In his testimony read before the committee, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo also implicated Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar and Audit Commissioner Mario Lipana in flood control corruption.

Earlier linked to flood control anomalies during previous hearings were dismissed public works officials Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, and contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has granted them status of “protected witnesses.”

“The deal with involvement in irregularities of four senators and one congressman, one member of the constitutional commission, and one undersecretary, seriously undermining public trust in two out of three branches of our government and a constitutional body,” Bernardo told the committee chaired by Senate President Pro-Tempore Panfilo Lacson.

He also appealed to the Blue Ribbon committee for help in his application for inclusion in the Witness Protection Program (WPP), as he expressed “regrets” for the “wrong” he did and for “lapses in my duty entrusted to me by the people and government.” He promised to fully cooperate with the government in its investigation.

“My statements are based on personal knowledge and direct interactions with the personalities involved. With great risk to my safety and that of my family members, I confirm the following,” Bernardo said.

“I attest to the broader systemic issues in DPWH that are widespread,” he added.

Bernardo alleged that he had facilitated 20 percent kickbacks or P160 million from Escudero’s P800 million worth of flood control and road network projects in Valenzuela City and in Marinduque through Maynard Ngu, reportedly Escudero’s “close friend and campaign contributor.”

Bernardo said the “deliveries of cash were personally made by me to Maynard Ngu at this office in Manila.”

In his supplemental affidavit, Bernardo alleged that he was “summoned” by Escudero to his office at the Senate in 2023, during the confirmation hearing of then DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan, about a streetlights project in Sorsogon.

Meeting over wine

Bernardo said he met Escudero for a second time over wine and was told by the former Senate president: “Alam ko naman galawan niyo dyan sa DPWH. Okay naman ako. Sabihin mo kay Sec na magbaba sa akin (I know the goings on at the DPWH. It’s OK with me. Tell the secretary to give me something.)”

The alleged P160 million delivery happened in the first quarter of 2025, Bernardo said, and that he had a “chance encounter” with Ngu and Escudero, who shook his hand to say “Thank you.”

Bernardo said he met Revilla in 2024 during which he gave the senator a list of projects provided by Alcantara.

Revilla allegedly asked for a 25 percent “commitment” for P500 million worth of flood control projects in Baliuag, Pandi and Plaridel, Bulacan sourced from the 2025 budget.

He said he personally delivered to Revilla’s house in Cavite his 25 percent share or P125 million kickbacks, supposedly to help his 2025 reelection bid. Revilla lost that midterm elections.

As for Binay, Bernardo said he facilitated the release of her 15 percent kickbacks from her P250 million flood control structure and reinforced concrete river protection projects in Malolos, Pulilan and Balagtas, Bulacan through her “trusted confidant” Carleen Villa.

Bernardo also said he personally delivered P37 million “commitment” to Binay at her Quezon City residence.

Regarding the case of Co, Bernardo said he received a call from the congressman who asked: “Maayos bang kausap si Engr. Alcantara (Is he OK to deal with)?”

Bernardo said Alcantara told him Co was asking for a 25 percent commission, of which two percent may be split between Bernardo and Alcantara.

Bernardo said it was Alcantara who delivered the cash to Co. Alcantara during the previous hearing testified about making cash deliveries to Co through the congressman’s aides “Paul” and “Mark” at a Bonifacio Global City hotel or at Co’s Valle Verde residence.

Co allegedly earned P8.7 billion in kickbacks from P35.024 billion worth of projects in Bulacan from 2022 to 2025.

Bernardo, meanwhile, said he received a call from Olaivar in 2024 about a list of projects to be funded through the unprogrammed appropriations of the Office of the Executive Secretary.

Bernardo said Olaivar was probably talking about Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, but he said he had no personal interaction with the Malacañang official.

He said Olaivar had a 15 percent “commitment” for P2.85 billion projects and that he would deliver the kickbacks to the undersecretary in Magallanes, Makati.

Olaivar’s projects involved mostly flood control and a few streetlights and road maintenance projects in Bulacan. But the senators were baffled as to why an education undersecretary would have a role in requesting DPWH projects.

Before his stint with the DepEd, Olaivar had worked for the offices of Revilla and then senator Sonny Angara, Bernardo said.

DepEd exec on leave

On learning of Olaivar’s testimony, Angara issued a statement to assure the public that his department “upholds the highest standards of integrity in all our work.”

Angara also said Olaivar went on a voluntary leave of absence “to allow due process to take its course without distraction to the Department.”

“DepEd remains firmly focused on its foremost duty: delivering quality education to every Filipino learner. That mission continues to guide all that we do,” Angara said.

In the case of Lipana, Bernardo confirmed Alcantara’s earlier testimony on the Commission on Audit official’s request for a list of projects in Bulacan. Senators floated the possibility of Lipana’s impeachment for his involvement in the flood control mess because his wife Marilou is a flood control contractor. Marilou is the president and general manager of Olympus Mining and Builders Group Philippines Corp.

Bernardo, meanwhile, made it to the list of the DOJ’s “protected witnesses” after his Senate Blue Ribbon testimony yesterday.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that while Bernardo’s testimony is still being evaluated he and his family would already be given security. After their Senate appearance, Remulla and Bernardo went to the DOJ on Padre Faura in Manila to discuss the arrangement.

Case buildup

The DOJ chief said Bernardo’s lawyers are preparing a complaint-affidavit, as well as a supplemental affidavit, for filing before the National Prosecution Service against officials involved in anomalous infrastructure projects.

“This is called the case build-up stage. We will still determine the status of the preliminary investigation. But the moment we file the complaint, then there’s a reason for AMLC to file cases,” Remulla said, adding that a freeze order is “coming very soon.” AMLC stands for Anti-Money Laundering Council.

He said the complaints may include malversation and indirect bribery against those allegedly involved in the anomalous infrastructure projects.

In a separate statement, the DOJ said Bernardo, along with Alcantara, Hernandez, Mendoza, and the Discaya couple, is under “provisional acceptance” into the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program.

“This means that, for the duration of this provisional period, they are considered Protected Witnesses for purposes of protection. At present, the assistance extended to them is limited to security and escort. It is meant to protect them from harm, not from liability,” Remulla said.

He explained that while they are not yet state witnesses, it is the government’s “duty to protect them because witnesses who will testify in a criminal prosecution for the government against those who violated the law need protection.”

He said the DOJ is just being “very careful” in determining among who of them would become state witnesses, since such status would absolve anyone covered of criminal or civil liability.

He stressed that not all of the witnesses would be granted “state witness” status.

“That’s why we’re saying that if you’ve told us the truth but failed in your bid to be state witness, you can always resort to plea bargaining to reduce the gravity of the penalty that can be imposed on you, by showing good faith,” he said. “Not everyone can be state witness.”

Remulla said Orly Regala Guteza, who claimed to be a former security consultant for Co, is also applying to be admitted into the WPP.

“We’re willing to give the protection immediately. But we have to make some arrangements first especially regarding manpower and shifting,” he said. “The DOJ is also asking the PNP to help supplement us, at least if we’ll let them stay in their houses.”

Remulla also said Co is already subject to an immigration lookout bulletin order. - Daphne Galvezae