Ex-usec Bernardo sought out Lacson to tell all

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson yesterday detailed how former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo reached out to him with the intention to tell all in his bid to become a state witness in the flood control corruption scandal.

Lacson called Bernardo his “very important witness” who sought him out after his explosive privilege speech exposing the ghost flood control projects in Bulacan and Oriental Mindoro.

“He approached me through a common friend. This was months ago, after my privilege speeches. At the time, he was still gauging the situation,” Lacson said in an interview with The STAR’s “Truth on the Line” program.

“When he said he received P100 million as birthday gifts from district engineers, I locked eyes with my lawyers. That’s how it started out,” Lacson added.

It was Bernardo who told Lacson about a syndicate within the DPWH, involving the former secretary Manuel Bonoan himself, resigned undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, resigned Department of Education undersecretary Trygve Olaivar and resigned Presidential Legislative Liaison Office undersecretary Adrian Bersamin, in the alleged scheme of siphoning kickbacks from infrastructure projects.

Bernardo called him up to disprove resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co’s claim that President Marcos earned kickbacks from a P100-billion budget insertion in the 2025 national budget, Lacson said.

According to Bernardo, it was Olaivar and Bersamin who had “misrepresented” the President in pushing for the budget insertion and later allegedly earned kickbacks from P81 billion worth of inserted DPWH projects.

During his second meeting with the former undersecretary, Lacson said he already knew of Bernardo’s key role in the flood control corruption. “I told him, I would not ask anything that I do not know about you,” Lacson said of his conversation with Bernardo.

Bernardo’s refusal to cooperate prompted Lacson to walk out on him. Bernardo took the bait and in the third meeting, told Lacson everything.

“I already knew a lot about him,” said Lacson, a former police intelligence officer. “At the Diamond Hotel, he is known for hanging out there, giving away cash. For whatever reason, that was his comfort zone.”

Sensing Bernardo’s willingness to tell all, Lacson said he laid out Bernardo’s options in his bid to be state witness.

Bernardo could agree to still be included in the charge sheet, but he has the option to enter into a plea bargain for a lesser offense.

Lacson said there was no assurance that there would be complete immunity, unless the court sees Bernardo’s testimony as crucial and his role as not being the most guilty.

Bernardo should also be amenable to “restitution,” or the act of admitting to and returning any ill-gotten wealth, Lacson said.

“His answer to me was: ‘I am ready for anything,’” Lacson said of Bernardo, whom he referred to the Department of Justice to apply for inclusion in the witness protection program (WPP).

“I think he is almost accepted by the WPP, and that he has committed to restitution,” Lacson said.

“What is important here is that he tells everything that he knows,” Lacson added.

Following Bernardo’s exposé, Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said the direction of the investigation should now be clear as it disproves Co’s allegations against President Marcos and former speaker Martin Romualdez.

“Both were falsely dragged into allegations that the evidence does not support,” he said. – Jose Rodel Clapano