Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo told the Sandiganbayan on Tuesday, March 17, that he received P130 million as “balato” (gift or tip) from resigned congressman Elizaldy Co.

Bernardo’s admission was aired when he testified before the anti-graft court during a hearing on the anomalous P289 million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

Zaldy Co is the main accused in the court’s sixth division which is hearing the case on non-bailable malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents under Article 171(4) of the Revised Penal Code.

Co has been out of the country since July 2025 and has not returned since then.

Co’s co-accused are DPWH Region IV-B Regional Director Gerald A. Pacanan, Assistant Regional Director Gene Ryan A. Altea, Assistant Regional Director Ruben D. Santos, Jr., Construction Division Chief Dominic G. Serrano, Project Engineer III Felisardo S. Casuno, Accountant IV Lerma D. Cayco, Maintenance Division Head Juliet Calvo, officer-in-charge Chief of Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division Dennis Pelo Abagon, and Planning and Design Division officer-in-charge Montrexis Tamayo, who already pleaded "not guilty" to their charges.

In his testimony, Bernardo told the court that the money was given to him by Pacanan's driver, and he continued to receive money from Co from 2023 to 2025.

When Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez asked if the "balato" from Co was a way for the former legislator to say "thank you," Bernardo answered in the affirmative and said that the money was a "token of gratitude" to ensure that all plans will go smoothly.

Bernardo also admitted that the "balato" was given every third quarter of the year.

Co and his co-accused are also facing a violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, before the Sandiganbayan’s fifth division. Co also has a separate graft charge before the court’s seventh division.

Co has been declared by the anti-graft court as a fugitive from justice following his refusal to return to the country.

The court’s fifth division has even ordered the issuance of a Writ of Preliminary Attachment against 16 real estate properties owned by Co and his wife.

Ombudsman prosecutors manifested before the court the urgent need to attach Co's properties to satisfy the demand of P215,331,394.47 to serve as security for the satisfaction of the civil liability that may arise from his criminal charges.