The scheduled appearance of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo before the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) on November 12 has been postponed again.
In an advisory sent to reporters on Tuesday evening, the ICI said the postponement was made upon the request of Bernardo’s counsel.
‘No reason was provided for the request to postpone the former DPWH undersecretary’s initially scheduled hearing,’ the commission said.
The ICI also said Bernardo’s counsel informed the commission that he ‘is ready and willing to appear before the Commission on November 17, 2025.’
Bernardo first appeared before the ICI on October 1 for the hearing on the flood control anomalies investigation, where he declined to speak to the media.
He later requested the postponement of his second appearance, which was originally scheduled for October 7.
Initially, the former DPWH official said he needed an additional week to gather the documents required for the investigation. He later sought another postponement, citing illness.
Bernardo was included among the respondents in the ICI’s third and fourth referrals to the Office of the Ombudsman on November 4 and November 6. The referrals concerned the so-called ‘ghost’ flood control projects in Bulacan.
He recently implicated several senators and lawmakers in an alleged kickback scheme involving infrastructure deals.