Bernardo: I delivered P250M commitment fee to Bong Revilla

State witness and former Public Works and Highways undersecretary Roberto Bernardo on Friday testified that he personally delivered P250 million worth of commitment fee or portion of the payment for government projects to former senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr.

Bernardo made the testimony before the Sandiganbayan during the bail hearing of Revilla and his five other co-accused in the malversation case involving the P92.8 million flood control project in Bulacan.

He said he personally delivered P125 million to Revilla's White House residence in 2024 and another P125 million in March 2025. Further, Bernardo said there was a delivery of P250 million commitment fee made by his aide, Vergel Niño Garcia, to Revilla's residence in February 2025 but the latter was not present during that time.

"I have seen the boxes [of commitment fee] delivered," Bernardo said.

"I myself, with my driver, [was there in the delivery], two times. I was there in first and third deliveries," he added. 

Bernardo said that six boxes and a paper bag were delivered to Revilla the first time, 13 boxes the second time, and six boxes the third time. 

“May usapan pong commitment bago mag-submit [ng proposed project] kay DPWH Secretary (Manuel) Bonoan. Secretary Bonoan was the one who allocated funds for Senator Revilla,” Bernardo said.

“Senator Revilla requested for projects,” Bernardo said, adding that Revilla’s allocation for government projects, as decided upon by Bonoan, was worth P1.5 billion.

Quizzed by Sandiganbayan Third Division Associate Justice Ronald Moreno on what makes Revilla entitled to a commitment fee when it is legal for a lawmaker to propose a project, Bernardo said, “Nasa proponent na po ‘yung kung manghihingi siya.”

Moreno then asked, “Senator Revilla asked from you a commitment of how much?”

Bernardo replied, “25%.” 

State witness and ex-Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo testifies that he personally delivered P250 million commitment fee or portion of payment for govt projects to former Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. in Dec. 2024 and March 2025 @gmanews pic.twitter.com/m4kDt24Afq

— Llanesca T. Panti (@llanescajourno) April 24, 2026

The prosecution panel also presented a banker's box, which Bernardo identified as the one used in the deliveries.

Bernardo said these are boxes that fit into his vehicles in the mentioned deliveries.

Likewise, he said P20 million can fit in each banker's box.

"It (P20 million) could easily fit in the box," Bernardo said.

Bernardo earlier committed to return P1 billion to the government as a precondition for his application to become a state witness.

The former Public Works undersecretary said he has returned almost half of his committed amount to the government so far.

Asked by Moreno again how come he can return that much money when Alcantara earlier told the anti-graft court that Bernardo did not get a commitment fee out of government projects where Revilla served as proponent, Bernardo said “there are other transactions other than this [Pandi, Bulacan] project.” — AOL, GMA News