Bernardo says Martin Romualdez did not ask him for DPWH projects, kickbacks

State witness and former Public Works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo on Thursday said that Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez did not ask him for a list of infrastructure projects in exchange of commitments or kickbacks.

Bernardo made the testimony during the hearing on the bail petition of Romualdez amid a P7.4 billion plunder leveled against the latter alongside former House appropriations panel chairperson Zaldy Co, personal assistant Joselyn Tragua Sereño, and Felicito Cristobal Guevarra, president of Samchan Foreign Exchange Corporation.

During the cross-examination conducted by Romualdez’s lawyer, Bernardo confirmed that in his six affidavits and two judicial affidavits, he did not mention that the former House speaker asked him for projects or kickback.

Asked if he never referred to Romualdez as a proponent, Bernardo answered in the affirmative.

Asked if the lawmaker never requested for list of projects from him, Bernardo said, “Yes, Ma'am. Hindi po (He did not make a request)."

“Wala pong ganun (There is no such kind),” he added.

Bernardo was also asked if he is aware of any commitment or kickback delivered to Romualdez, Bernardo said, “Wala po (None).”

He then said he mentioned Romualdez in his affidavits in the context of seeing the former Speaker during the birthday celebration of then DPWH secretary Mark Villar in September 2016.

Bernardo also admitted that he had a financial gain of 1% for every transaction involving then DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office District Engineer Henry Alcantara and Co.

He said that Alcantara and then DPWH National Capital Region director Gerard Opulencia would provide the list of projects for proponent lawmakers for funding, and would also collect commitment fees from contractors since this will serve as kickback for proponents.

“Boss, hati na tayo sa (let's split the) 2%,” Bernardo recalled Alcantara as saying to him.

Asked by the Romualdez’s lawyer if he receives portion of the amount of a project cost, Bernardo replied, “in some cases.”

He, however, said he has no personal knowledge of the dealings between Alcantara and Co.

“Sinabi niya (Alcantara) [lang] po sa akin na nagdedeliver siya kay Zaldy Co (Alcantara told me he was making deliveries to Co),” Bernardo said.

The former DPWH undersecretary said Co only phoned him in 2021 to inquire about Alcantara.

“Sabi ko po maayos kausap si Alcantara (I vouched for Alcantara). Professional,” Bernardo said.

Turning a new leaf

Bernardo was also quizzed by Romualdez’s defense team on his statement in his judicial affidavit that he came forward about the flood control scheme because the people who have helped him before did not help him when he was grilled in the Senate inquiry on the flood control mess.

Bernardo, however, said that the people turning their backs on him was not the only reason for him to tell the truth.

“Hindi ko po masasabi na 'yun lang ang dahilan. When I learned about ghost projects, hindi ko na po kayang dalhin iyon. Kailangan matigil 'yun,” Bernardo said.

(I cannot say that people turning their backs on me was my only reason. It became such a burden for me when I learned about ghost projects. That should stop.) —AOL, GMA News