MANILA, PHILIPPINES — A political earthquake has rocked the Philippine government as a former high-ranking official delivered bombshell testimony before the nation’s Senate, exposing what he describes as a deeply entrenched, systemic corruption scheme siphoning off billions in public funds. In a sworn affidavit submitted to the powerful Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo has implicated four sitting senators, a congressman, and other high-level officials in a wide-ranging conspiracy involving ghost projects, massive kickbacks, and brazen cash deliveries made directly to the homes of lawmakers.

The stunning revelations have sent shockwaves through the capital, threatening to ignite one of the largest government corruption scandals in recent history and placing the careers of some of the country’s most prominent political figures in jeopardy.

Appearing before the committee, a visibly resolute Bernardo made it clear he was risking his life to expose the truth. Formally requesting protection under the Philippines’ Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act, he acknowledged the immense danger his testimony posed. “The inherently delicate and sensitive nature of my testimony cannot be understated,” Bernardo declared in his opening statement. “It contains details of the involvement of several high-ranking officials in the systematic plunder of the nation’s funds.”

Anatomy of a Heist: The “20-20-40 Scheme” and Ghost Projects

At the heart of Bernardo’s testimony is a detailed breakdown of the sophisticated methods used to defraud the government. He described a so-called “20-20-40 scheme” where corrupt district engineers allegedly use the licenses of legitimate contractors to secure public works projects. According to the affidavit, the scheme’s breakdown is simple and brazen: 20% of the project’s value goes to the contractor for the use of their name and license, 20% goes to a fixer or middleman who orchestrates the deal, and a staggering 40% is funneled back to the corrupt officials who approved the project.

Bernardo named several engineers—Henry Alcantara, Bryce Hernandez, JP Mendoza, and Alri Dumasig—as key players in these operations. He also exposed the prevalence of “ghost flood control projects,” particularly within the DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office. These are projects that receive full government funding, are documented as complete, but are never actually built. The money simply vanishes into the pockets of the officials and contractors involved.

The Explosive Allegations: Naming Names and Delivering Cash

The most damning portion of Bernardo’s 29-page affidavit is his direct implication of several of the nation’s most powerful legislators, detailing specific meetings, percentages, and even the methods of payment.

Congressman Zaldico: Bernardo alleged that a contractor sought his confirmation regarding a 25% commission being demanded by a “Cong. Zaldico” for a project.

Senator Chiz Escudero: The affidavit claims that a known campaign contributor to Senator Escudero, Maynard Mu, received a staggering 160 million pesos (approximately $2.7 million USD). This amount allegedly represented a 20% kickback from an 800-million-peso portfolio of projects that were successfully inserted into the General Appropriations Act, the country’s national budget.

Senator Bong Revilla: In what is perhaps the most shocking claim, Bernardo detailed a 2024 meeting with Senator Revilla where the senator allegedly approved a 25% “commitment,” or kickback, on a list of projects. The total sum, amounting to roughly 125 million pesos (approximately $2.1 million USD), was allegedly delivered in cash directly to the senator’s home in Cavite.

Senator Nancy Binay: Bernardo made a similarly audacious claim against Senator Binay, alleging that a member of her staff requested a 15% cut for projects under her purview. Bernardo stated under oath that he personally delivered 37 million pesos (approximately $630,000 USD) in cash to the senator’s residence in Quezon City.

DepEd Undersecretary Olivar: The corruption allegedly extends beyond the legislature. Bernardo implicated Department of Education Undersecretary Olivar, who he claims leveraged past connections to demand a 15% kickback on a massive 2.85 billion peso (approximately $48.5 million USD) list of projects intended for unprogrammed appropriations.

The Aftershock: A Government in Crisis

Bernardo concluded his affidavit by stressing that these were not isolated incidents but evidence of a rot that runs deep within the government. “This is a deep system of exchanges, agreements, and the return of favors within various branches of government,” he stated.

The fallout from the testimony has been immediate and severe. The Department of Justice, under Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, has confirmed it is meticulously evaluating Bernardo’s claims and cross-referencing names and documents before granting him full entry into the Witness Protection Program.

Inside the Senate, members of the Blue Ribbon Committee were reportedly stunned by the scope and gravity of the allegations made against their own colleagues. The Senate President has stated that Bernardo’s testimony will undoubtedly trigger a much deeper investigation, with the potential for criminal charges to be filed against some of the most powerful figures in the country.

As the nation reels from these revelations, the Filipino people are once again confronted with the specter of systemic corruption at the highest levels. Roberto Bernardo’s testimony has thrown open the doors to a scandal of immense proportions, and the public is now watching intently, demanding not just promises of good governance, but swift, uncompromising justice.