Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary for Operations Roberto Bernardo on Thursday, Sept. 25, dropped an explosive affidavit detailing the systemic corruption in various projects and naming several legislators, department officials, and political personalities allegedly involved in the kickback scheme.

Bernardo disclosed this during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing. He stated that he retired from the DPWH in August 2025 after a 40-year career, executing an affidavit as part of his bid to be placed under the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP). He said his testimony comes at “great risk” to his safety and that of his family.

“I am executing and submitting this affidavit with my full and absolute consent as an integral part of my application to be admitted under the witness protection program,” Bernardo said.

In his affidavit, Bernardo traced his rise from laborer in 1985 to undersecretary in 2017, eventually retiring just last month. He said that since receiving the Senate invitation, he had been collating “all written communications, documents, tables and matrices, and lists in my possession” to aid the probe.

“I am confident that I can provide even more material and relevant evidence that would clarify the issues once and for all,” he said.

Bernardo narrated that after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address in July 2025, he first heard from former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan that several Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office (DEO) officials former DPWH Bulacan engineers Henry Alcantara, Engr. Brice Hernandez, Engr. Jaypee Mendoza, and Engr. Arjay Domasig—were engaged in contracting activities using borrowed licenses.

According to Hernandez, profits from such deals were split in a 20-20-20-40 arrangement. This 20-20-20-40 scheme was brought up in the previous hearing by Hernandez. According to him, he shares the profit along with Mendoza and Project Engineer Paul Jayson Duya, with each of them receiving 20 percent, while they give 40 percent to Alcantara.

“My understanding is that they had prepared and signed documents for purposes of collecting payment which they then apportioned amongst themselves,” Bernardo said.

Bernardo said that he has no personal knowledge on the exact actions Alcantara and his colleagues took to accomplish this scheme and that he can only be asked general questions on the systems in place that would have allowed this modus to happen.

“I categorically state that I have neither knowledge nor participation in these ‘business’ activities,” he added.

Alongside the scheme, Bernardo said ghost flood control projects also surfaced. While Alcantara denied involvement, he pointed the finger at Hernandez. Bonoan himself later confirmed in legislative hearings that such ghost projects existed.

"He likewise told me that he even convened the officers of Bulacan 1st DEO to confront them about these ghost projects and that some officers it was Engr. Hernandez who was the primary person responsible for the same," Bernardo said.

“In the exact words of Engr. Alcantara: ‘Si Brice po iyan (That's Brice),’” he added.

Bernardo recounted conversations linking Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co to a 25 percent commission demand.

He recalled that Co one time called him to say that he met Engr. Alcantara and wanted to confirm, "Maayos bang kausap si Engr. Alcantara? (Is Engr. Alcantara easy to deal with?)", to which I replied "Maayos po (Yes, he is)."

Bernardo said Alcantara told him that of the commission, 2 percent would be split between the two of them.

“Boss, hati na tayo sa 2 percent (Boss, let’s split the 2 percent),” Alcantara allegedly told him.

Bernardo added that Alcantara “would tell me every time that he made deliveries of cash to Cong. Zaldy Co in compliance with his commitment.”

The affidavit also implicated Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero through businessman and campaign contributor Maynard Ngu.

Bernardo said that he and Ngu were close friends and they go years back.

Bernardo said Ngu asked him for a list of projects, some of which later appeared in the General Appropriations Act. When asked about the sharing, Ngu allegedly confirmed 20% of the project cost as the agreed commitment.

"Maynard Ngu asked me to submit a list of projects. I personally submitted a list of projects to Maynard Ngu and some of the items therein pertaining to the Valenzuela and Marinduque projects were subsequently included in the General Appropriations Act (GAA)," Bernardo said.

After giving him the list, Bernardo then discussed commitment. He asked him: "Boss, paano to? (Boss, how do we go about this?)" Maynard replied: "Bahala ka na (It's up to you)." I asked: "Boss, okay na ba ang 20% (Boss, is 20% okay?)" Maynard said: "Okay."

“After the inclusion of the projects in the GAA, I delivered 20% of approximately ₱800 million or about ₱160 million to Maynard Ngu which was meant for Senator Escudero,” Bernardo added, stating that deliveries were personally made to Ngu’s Manila office.

Based on the matrix, the projects included the construction of a flood control wall along Canumay Creek (Phase 2), Barangay Canumay West, Valenzuela City and the rehabilitation/reconstruction of roads.

Bernardo confirmed he referred Commissioner Mario Lipana to Brice Hernandez at the Bulacan 1st DEO.

"I confirm that Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Lipana requested that he be referred to officers of DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO," he said.

But he said he had no personal knowledge of whether a project was eventually secured.

The former DPWH official also implicated Department of Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, whom he first met while Olaivar was still working in the Senate. Bernardo said that Olaivar used to work for Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla and Senator Sonny Angara before his appointment as Usec. for the Department of Education.

In 2024, Olaivar allegedly requested a list of projects for unprogrammed appropriations worth ₱2.85 billion. The agreement was a 15 percent commitment, Bernardo claimed.

"Sometime 2024, Usec. Olaivar personally called me for a meeting to discuss about Unprogrammed Appropriations supposedly for the Office of the Executive Secretary. In the said meeting, he requested me to submit a list of projects," Bernardo recalled.

"Subsequently, I submitted this list to Usec. Olaivar. Usec. Oiaivar told me that the commitment is 15%. In his words words. "Boss, kinse yan (Boss that's 15 percent)." Thereafter, the DPWH received a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for P2.85 billion for the projects," he said.

“Engr. Alcantara from time to time would collect and deliver the agreed 15% commitment to me which I delivered or caused to be delivered to Usec. Olaivar in Magallanes, Makati and other places,” Bernardo added.

The projects included flood control structures in Bulacan.

Bernardo said he personally met then Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla in 2024, where Revilla sought a 25 percent cut of project funds.

“I relayed the 25 percent commitment to Engr. Alcantara and told him that Senator Revilla will appreciate additional contributions for his senatorial re-election,” Bernardo said.

Meanwhile, that same year, Carleen Villa, a staff and trusted confidant of former Senator, now Makati Mayor Nancy Binay, called Bernardo and asked him for a commitment, which was set at 15 percent of the total amount of the projects.

Engr. Alcantara supposedly gathered about ₱37 million, which Bernardo said he delivered to Senator Binay “at a house in Quezon City.”

For Revilla and Binay, the projects included various flood control structures in Bulacan.

He concluded by stressing that his disclosures only scratch the surface of the systemic corruption inside the DPWH and Congress.

“Given the complexities of the transactions and personalities involved, I humbly reserve the right to submit a supplementary affidavit if warranted in the premises,” he said.

Bernardo was later brought to the Department of Justice (DOJ) by Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla to have his statement evaluated.