P120 million ‘balato’ from Co 1% of flood kickbacks – Bernardo

MANILA, Philippines — Former public works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo has admitted receiving P120 million from fugitive congressman Zaldy Co as “balato” or gratuity, drawn from funds for anomalous flood control projects.

In an affidavit submitted to the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division yesterday, Bernardo said he received the amount in batches – P45 million in 2023, P50 million in 2024 and P25 million in 2025.

The total amount represented one percent of the 25 percent worth of kickbacks that Co allegedly collected from funding for flood control projects, Bernardo declared.

He and former Bulacan First District public works engineer Henry Alcantara reportedly each received one percent of the kickbacks.

Bernardo also recalled that former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Mimaropa regional director Gerald Pacanan – Co’s fellow accused in the graft case – would inform him through text message that cash deliveries packed in paper bags and sealed cartons came from Co.

When asked by the Fifth Division justices why he simply acknowledged Pacanan’s message and did not ask about the source of the cash delivered to him, Bernardo said he was aware that Co was “powerful,” being then the chairman of the House of Representatives’ committee on appropriations.

Co, Pacanan and other former DPWH Mimaropa region officials and personnel were charged for violating Sectin 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act over alleged irregularities in the implementation of a flood dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro worth P289.5 million.

Previously, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon declared the said project carried out by Co’s Sunwest Corp. was “substandard.” 

Co remains at large, and is believed to be hiding in France. The Philippine government failed to get hold of him after he was arrested in the Czech Republic for violating immigration rules in April this year.