Ex-DPWH exec Bernardo tags Bonoan, more lawmakers in flood control mess

Former Public Works and Highways undersecretary Roberto Bernardo on Friday implicated more individuals including ex-Secretary Manuel Bonoan as among those who received kickbacks in infrastructure projects.

During the continuation of the Senate blue ribbon committee investigation into the alleged anomalous flood control projects, Bernardo read a second supplemental affidavit where he admitted facilitating alleged kickbacks for Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Mark Villar, Education Secretary Sonny Angara, former senator Grace Poe, former Caloocan Rep. Mitch Cajayon-Uy, San Jose del Monte Mayor Rida Robes and former DPWH undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.

Bernardo previously tagged  Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero, former senators Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and Nancy Binay, and Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co amid the investigation into anomalous and ghost flood control projects.

Bong Revilla

In implicating Revilla, the former DPWH official said he prepared a list of projects for the former solon with 25% "commitments" or kickbacks worth P125 million. The money was allegedly delivered to Revilla's residence in Bacoor, Cavite in December 2024 and were packed in six cardboard boxes, each containing P20 million, and one paper bag, containing P5 million. The former senator also allegedly received kickbacks worth P250 million in February 2025.

A spokesperson for Revilla dismissed Bernardo’s testimony, saying this "should be taken with a grain of salt." She warned that "giving credence to allegations" of a supposed perpetrator who "recast himself as a truth-teller" compromises the justice system.

"This development is disappointing but not surprising. Once again, Mr. Revilla is being subjected to political persecution by forces harboring ill will against him. He categorically denies all allegations against him. These are outright fabrications intended to malign his reputation and to divert the attention of the public from the real culprits," Revilla's spokesperson, Atty. Maria Carissa Guinto, said in a statement.

Revilla is ready to disprove allegations against him at the proper forum, Guinto said, and "pursue all legal remedies to protect his rights under the law."

Nancy Binay

Bernardo also reiterated that Binay, through her staff, received commitments of 12% to certain infrastructure projects in 2022 and 2023. He also said Bonoan allocated P500 million for Binay under the 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

In a Facebook post, Binay denied the allegations.

"Tahimik na po tayong nagtatrabaho bilang Mayor ng Makati, at uulitin ko po: Wala po akong kinalaman, ni anumang papel, sa anumang proyekto sa flood control, at wala po akong empleyado sa Senado na kayang gawin ang ibinabato sa akin. I will not allow lies such as this to distract my focus in serving the people of Makati," she said.

Escudero and Maynard Ngu

Meanwhile, Bernardo also said he prepared a list of projects worth P1.4 billion for Escudero in 2024 with 20% commitment. He made the first delivery of P160 million to Ngu's building in Manila in early 2025 and second delivery worth P120 million in the same building.

Estrada

In his affidavit, Bernardo said Estrada, in 2023, asked for projects worth P500 million. He said Bonoan agreed to give P450 million worth of projects included in the National Expenditure Program for 2024 with 18% commitment for the senator.

He said in the third quarter of 2024, Estrada called him for P1 billion worth of projects because "marami pa akong tutulungan sa eleksyon (I will help a lot of people during the elections). After several back and forth, P1.45 billion worth of projects for Estrada was included in the 2025 General Appropriations Act with the senator allegedly getting 25% commitment or P360 million. The money was allegedly delivered in boxes to Estrada in San Juan City.

Another kickback worth P213 million was also allegedly delivered to Estrada in San Juan City during the first quarter of 2025, he added.

Poe

Bernardo also implicated former senator Grace Poe in the kickback scheme, saying she received 20% commitment from the list of projects under the 2025 GAA. It was collected by a certain Mrs. Patron, a contractor, at the Diamond Hotel.

Mitch Cajayon-Uy

Bernardo said he facilitated the release of some projects for Cajayon-Uy's congressional district.

Rida Robes

Likewise, the former DPWH official admitted facilitating the projects released for Robes' congressional district.

Zaldy Co

In addition to his statements in his affidavit dated September 25, Bernardo alleged that Co also dealt with other DPWH engineers including Gerard Pacanan, Gerard Opulencia, and Danny Villa. He said there wre times that Pacanan and Opulencia would give him certain amounts supposedly from Co.

Olaivar and Angara

Bernardo said he had known Olaivar as early as 2010 when he was still a staff of Revilla. He said Olaivar also worked under the office of the late senator Edgardo Angara and later then senator Sonny Angara.

He recalled several dealings with Olaivar between 2019 and 2024 including the latter allegedly receiving deliveries representing 12% of the projects of Angara while he was the Senate Finance chairperson.

Angara denied Bernardo's accusations.

"We reject any insinuation made today that we were involved in anomalous projects. In my 21 years in government we have never been involved in corruption," the Education secretary said in a statement

Mark Villar

Bernardo said he was appointed DPWH assistant secretary for operations assigned over the Visayas regions during the term of then Secretary Villar. He was promoted to undersecretary in 2017.

In his affidavit, Bernardo said Cabral -- who previously served as DPWH undersecretary for planning service -- would ask him to submit list of projects related to lump sum fund allocations of DPWH. Among the projects are EDSA and other major road projects. He said the commission for the projects was 10% and were allegedly divided as follows: 50% to Carlo Aguilar, presumably for Villar;  25% for Cabral, and 25% himself.

In a statement, Villar "vehemently and categorically deny the accusations made today in the Blue Ribbon Committee. Isa po itong malaking kasinungalingan." 

He asked the public to be discerning and not to rush judgment based solely on a person’s affidavit, "which may be manufactured or tailored fit for his or other people’s convenience."

"I stand by my untarnished record as a long-serving public servant as a Representative, DPWH Secretary, and Senator of this Republic," Villar said.

Cathy Cabral

Meanwhile, Bernardo said it is Cabral "with the imprimatur of Sec Mark Villar and later continued by Sec Manny Bonoan, who had control, at the DPWH level, to remove include, add, deduct, or modify insertions of items in the NEP for infrastructure or those pertaining to the DPWH". It is also Cabral who alleged communicate and meet with lawmakers to inform them of their kickbacks and ask them for titles of projects they want to include in the DPWH budget.

Bernardo also said he allegedly delivered cash to Cabral's house in Quezon City.

Bonoan

Meanwhile, Bernardo said that in 2023, 2024, and 2025, Cabral apportioned the budget ceiling for the DPWH "allocable NEP" among the districts. Although she would allegedly make it appear to be utilized, Bernardo said Cabral would supposedly reserve a substantial percentage for her and Bonoan's preferred projects.

Bernardo also said he handled projects worth P5 billion per annum for Bonoan from 2023, 2024, and 2025, with 15% commitment. Of the 15%, 75% would be given to Bonoan; 25% to Bernardo; and the rest to Cabral.

Bernardo said Cabral took charge of her own reserved allocation.—AOL/ VDV, GMA Integrated News