A group advocating transparency and accountability is asking the government to reconsider any plan to turn key players in flood control anomalies into state witnesses in the ongoing case build-up against those responsible in the multi-billion peso kickback scheme.

In a statement, the National Institute for Transparency and Accountability (NITA) emphasized that genuine transparency and justice require going after the core architects of corruption, and not using them as tools to build cases against others.

NITA executive director Carlos Ayala cited for instance former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo whom he said played a key role in the anomalies, especially in the kickback scheme.

“Bernardo’s own admissions indicate that he was not a mere participant but a central operator who enabled how billions of pesos in public funds were moved, allocated, and allegedly misused,” said Ayala.

“And based on his own statements, it is clear that billions of pesos passed through his hands. That alone establishes the scale of his responsibility," he added.

Aside from Bernardo, among those reportedly being considered as state witnesses are Bulacan District Engineering Office officials Henry Alcantara and Brice Hernandez.

All of them reportedly returned huge amounts of money and properties that came from the anomalous flood control projects.

Ayala also called on the government to prioritize asset recovery and urged authorities to immediately pursue the restitution of allegedly stolen funds.

Ayala said this should include the seizure of properties linked to all players in the flood control anomalies and the freezing of all bank accounts and financial instruments connected to them pending the outcome of formal proceedings.

“The Filipino people deserve more than sensational testimonies. They deserve accountability, the return of stolen funds, and a clear message that those who engineer corruption—no matter how cooperative they later claim to be—will be held fully liable,’ said Ayala.