In a stunning turn of events that has rocked the foundations of the Senate, a former high-ranking official from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has unleashed an explosive affidavit, detailing a vast, systemic scheme of fund diversion involving billions of pesos.

Former DPWH Undersecretary for Operations, Roberto R. Bernardo, appearing before the Blue Ribbon Committee, read a “second supplemental affidavit” that implicated at least five sitting senators, a former and current DPWH Secretary, and other powerful political figures in a deeply entrenched “commitment” network.

The testimony painted a devastating picture of institutionalized plunder, where project funds were allegedly allocated in exchange for hefty commissions—delivered in cash, in cardboard boxes, and in secret meetings at hotels and private residences.

A Crisis of Conscience
Bernardo, who is applying to be a state witness, began his testimony by framing it as an act of atonement, compelled by a “fear of God Almighty” and a desire to “come clean.”

He confessed that his initial instinct was to “remain silent,” hoping he would “get protection from the powerful in politics and influential personalities who orchestrated or gave way to these irregularities.”

He quickly realized, however, that one “mistake cannot be corrected by another.” Citing the decade-long PDAF scam cases, Bernardo stated he wanted to ensure the “main culprits” would be held accountable sooner rather than later.

“I am committed to disclose everything that I know regarding these anomalies, particularly the complicated and ingenious ways by which these were carried out,” Bernardo testified, acknowledging the “serious threats” to his personal safety and that of his family.

He described a “corrupt system” where an individual is “promised favors or forced to participate” and where “moral direction” is destroyed, especially “when those who are supposed to be the main obstacles to these evil deeds are the ones who orchestrate and enable them.”

The ‘No Paper Trail’ Playbook
At the heart of Bernardo’s confession is a system built to be invisible. He stated unequivocally that the “commitment” scheme—a euphemism for commissions—operates “practically without any paper trail.”

Bernardo’s affidavit positions him as a central facilitator, the man who allegedly received requests from politicians, sourced projects and funds through the DPWH budgeting process, and coordinated the collection and delivery of the agreed-upon percentages.

He confirmed that this was not a new phenomenon, stating that “each and every DPWH official” is “buffeted with various avenues of corrupt acts.” He extended this claim to “several top officials of other departments,” including Finance, Health, Education, and Agriculture.

Then, he began naming names.

A Roster of the Accused: The Senate Allegations
Bernardo’s affidavit provided a detailed, politician-by-politician breakdown of the alleged transactions.

Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. Bernardo claimed a “close and friendly relationship” with Revilla, being godparents to each other’s children. In the third quarter of 2024, Revilla allegedly asked for projects to “help him in his national campaign.” When Bernardo suggested a 20-25% “commitment,” he claims the senator replied, “25%.” Bernardo then sourced projects totaling P1.55 billion.

Delivery 1 (Late 2024): A 25% commitment of P125 million was allegedly collected. Bernardo stated this was packed in “six cardboard boxes” and one paper bag. He claims he and his driver personally delivered the boxes to Revilla’s residence at the “White House Compound” in Cavite, where he met the senator.

Delivery 2 (February 2025): A second delivery of P250 million was allegedly made to the same residence.

Senator Nancy Binay Bernardo alleges he transacted through Senator Binay’s aide, “Carlene.”

Transaction 1 (2022): Carlene allegedly requested projects worth P1.882 billion on behalf of Senator Binay, with a 12% commitment. Bernardo claims he received 3% of this. The funds were allegedly “delivered to Carlene for Senator Binay in several tranches.”

Transaction 2 (Late 2023): Another list of projects (P1.672 billion) was prepared. Bernardo claims another group offered Binay a higher 15% commitment but failed to deliver. He alleges Carlene requested a “50 million advance for Senator Binay for the holiday season,” which he provided. He was later reimbursed and agreed to match the 15% rate.

Transaction 3 (Late 2024): For projects in the 2025 budget, a 15% commitment of approximately P468 million was allegedly collected and delivered in two tranches to houses in Horseshoe Village, Quezon City. After the second delivery, Bernardo claims Carlene told him, “Sir already got it. He said thanks. You won’t be forgotten in Makati.” “Sir,” Bernardo noted, “refers to the husband of Senator Binay.”

Senator Chiz Escudero Bernardo alleges that Maynard Ngu, the head of Cherry Mobile and a Special Envoy to China, approached him in November 2024 to ask for a list of projects for Senator Escudero.

Transaction: A list of projects worth P1.44 billion was prepared with a 20% commitment.

Delivery 1 (Early 2025): Bernardo claims he made a first delivery of P160 million to Ngu at the Cherry Mobile office in Manila.

Delivery 2 (Early 2025): A second delivery of P120 million was allegedly made to the same location.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada Claiming a close relationship forged during their time visiting Revilla in detention, Bernardo alleges Senator Estrada also made requests.

Transaction 1 (2023): P450 million for a DPWH NCR building with an 18% commitment.

Transaction 2 (2024): Estrada allegedly requested P1 billion, saying, “Help me out, I have a lot of people to help in the election.” They agreed on a 25% commitment. The projects, totaling P1.45 billion, were allegedly included in the 2025 budget.

Deliveries: Bernardo claims a total commitment of approximately P360 million was delivered to the Diamond Hotel, which his driver then delivered to Estrada at the Archaga building in San Juan. A second delivery of P213 million was allegedly made to the same building.

Senator Grace Poe Bernardo testified that in the third quarter of 2024, an aide from Senator Poe’s office, “Jwa dela Rosa,” requested a P500 million allocation. Bernardo was allegedly told to coordinate with a contractor, “Mrs. Patron,” who he claims collected the 20% commitment.

Senator Sonny Angara Bernardo also implicated Usec. Trigg Olivar, a “common figure in budget deliberation hearings,” alleging that between 2019 and 2024, Olivar “received deliveries representing 12% of the projects of Senator Sonny Angara” while the latter was Chairman of Finance.

The Rot from Within: Implicating DPWH Leadership
Perhaps most damningly, Bernardo did not spare his own department, implicating both his former and current bosses.

Former Secretary Mark Villar Bernardo stated that during Villar’s term, Usec. Maria Catalina Cabral (Planning) “had control… to remove, include, add, deduct or modify insertions” in the budget, with Villar’s approval. He alleges that for certain approved projects, there was a 10% “approval” fee, which was divided: “50% to Carlo Aguilar, presumably for Sec Mark Villar; 25% [to] Usec Cabral; [and] 25% for myself.”

Secretary Manny Bonoan Bernardo, who called the current secretary his “mentor,” alleged that Bonoan also directed him to prepare lists of projects for inclusion in the budget for 2023 (P450M), 2024 (P150M), and 2025 (P900M), with commitments ranging from 10% to 20%. He further claimed that Bonoan and Cabral would “reserve a substantial percentage” of the entire DPWH budget for their “preferred projects.” Bernardo alleged he handled “at least 5 billion per annum” for Bonoan in 2023-2025, with an average 15% commitment. Of that 15%, he claims Bonoan “usually would give me 25%,” with the rest shared between Bonoan and Cabral.

A Circus of Empty Chairs
Bernardo’s affidavit was delivered in a room conspicuously empty of other key personalities. Committee Chairman Ping Lacson opened the hearing by reading a long list of invited resource persons who failed to appear.

Congressmen Martin Romualdez and Eric Yap were excused by the Speaker. The controversial Mr. Saldivar was, according to his lawyer, “overseas due to medical reasons.” Several contractors and other DPWH district engineers also sent excuses, citing prior engagements, project site operations, or sudden medical issues.

Most notably, the Bureau of Immigration confirmed that a key aide of Mr. Saldivar, John Paul Estrada, “left the country on September 2, 2025 bound for Hong Kong and has not returned.”

As Bernardo’s testimony implicated a wide swath of the political elite, the question left hanging in the air was whether this was, as he claimed, a genuine act of repentance, or as some critics have suggested, a calculated diversion. With key figures absent and one witness on the run, the nation is left to wonder just how deep the rot goes.