Bersamin willing to be probed but not in Senate

Former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said Wednesday he is willing to face any formal investigation as regards the alleged insertions in the 2025 national budget, but not before the Senate. 

''Wag na sa Senate dahil alam ko roon (Not in the Senate), there is nothing that I can say there na hindi... If ever they want to charge me as the mastermind, whatever case they want to file ....file it,'' Bersamin said in a phone interview with reporters.

On Tuesday, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo ''Ping'' Lacson tagged two government undersecretaries who allegedly invoked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr’s name to supposedly extract kickbacks of at least P52 billion from supposed fund insertions in the 2025 national budget.

They were identified by Lacson as former Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar and Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin.

Lacson was quoting revelations from former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo who also mentioned former Public Works Secretary Manny Bonoan and the older Bersamin.

"Sinabihan siya ni Usec. Trygve Olaivar na si Secretary Bonoan asked Executive Secretary Bersamin several times. Sino ba mag fafacilitate nitong P52 billion? Of course, isasama sa bicam, paano ito rerelease? Sino mag-fafacilitate? Ang sagot ni ES Bersamin sa kanya, 'We will take care of it.' Sila na daw bahala," Lacson said.

(Usec. Trygve Olaivar told him that Secretary Bonoan asked Executive Secretary Bersamin several times, "Who will facilitate this P52 billion? Of course, it will be included in the bicam, how will it be released? Who will facilitate? ES Bersamin's answer to him was, we will take care of it.")

Bersamin has denied any involvement in the scandal.

Misinformed?

Asked if he thinks Lacson was misinformed, Bersamin said he could not judge the senator's remarks, however, he said he respects his declaration.

''Hindi ko alam 'yan, I cannot judge the veracity of Senator Lacson's statement. Batay sa handwritten, sulat ni Bernardo mga ganon, bahala silang magdiskarte diyan, but as far as I know, and the others are not that... sila lang ang gumagawa, 'wag din ninyong sabihin na ako ang mastermind,'' Bersamin said.

(I don't know that, I cannot judge the veracity of Senator Lacson's statement. It's from the handwritten letter of Bernardo. It's up to them how they will handle that but as far as I know... don't even say that I'm the mastermind.) 

Bersamin maintained that all allegations against him should be established in court.

''Alam mo naging judge at abogado, ako naging judge nang matagal. Itong mga bagay na ito, paratang na ganito, should ultimately be established in court. Hindi ko hinihingi na for purposes of these declarations, there should now be evidence acceptable by the court,'' he said. 

(I became a judge, a lawyer... These kinds of things and accusations should ultimately be established in court. There should now be evidence acceptable by the court.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News