November 14, 2025 | 1:42pm
MANILA, Philippines — More powerful names have been dropped by former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo in the massive infra scam, including former senator Grace Poe and ex-secretary Manuel Bonoan.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Friday, November 14, resumed its probe into the flood control corruption scheme. In a previous hearing, Bernardo named Sen. Chiz Escudero and former senators Bong Revilla and Nancy Binay (now Makati mayor) as receiving kickbacks.
Bernardo again appeared before the panel, this time directly implicating former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan and ex-undersecretary Cathy Cabral.
Cabral had control to “remove, include, add, deduct, or modify insertions of items” in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for the DPWH.
“Usec. Cabral would tell me that she would communicate and meet legislators to inform them of the amount of their allocations and ask them for titles of projects that they want to include in the DPWH budget,” Bernardo said.
Cabral had “total influence and authority in preparing, and finalizing the NEP for Infrastructure.”
Bernardo also attested that he himself would personally deliver money to Cabral.
In 2022, Bonoan allegedly asked Bernardo to submit a list of projects to be included in the NEP 2023, amounting to P450 million. Bernardo complied, asking former DPWH engineer Henry Alcantara to submit a list of projects to be included in the NEP. This list was forwarded to Bonoan, and Cabral allegedly facilitated the projects’ inclusion in the NEP.
Alcantara allegedly gave him 15% of the project’s budget.
The following year in 2024, Bonoan repeated the same request, this time asking Bernardo for projects worth P900 million. Alcantara would this time give 20% as a kickback.
Cabral allegedly made it seem like all of the NEP items were completely allocated, but had actually reserved a “substantial percentage” for hers and Bonoan’s preferred projects.
Bernardo alleged that from the 15% cut that they would get from the budget, he would get 25% of the money, and the remaining would be split between Cabral and Bonoan.
More former senators named
Bernardo also named current and former senators in his affidavit. The newest name in the fray is former senator Grace Poe. A staff of Poe, someone named JY Dela Rosa, asked if the then-senator could be accommodated in the DPWH NEP.
“Bonoan told me there is a P500 million for Senator Grace Poe,” Roberto said.
A 20% commitment was collected and allegedly given to Poe.
Sen. Mark Villar, during his time as a DPWH Secretary, was also loosely implicated by Bernardo.
Cabral would again ask Bernardo to make a list of projects, which would be forwarded and approved by Villar. These projects included EDSA and other major roads. Carlo Aguilar, Villar’s cousin, allegedly received kickbacks on behalf of the then DPWH secretary.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who has also been named by other former DPWH officials in the kickback scheme, was also implicated again by Bernardo. He allegedly requested P500 million in 2023, with an 18% commitment fee. The following year, Estrada asked for P1 billion worth of projects, where he would get a 25% commitment fee.
Bernardo also doubled down on his previous accusations against former senator Bong Revilla, Sen. Chiz Escudero, and Binay.
The former undersecretary said that he was close friends with Revilla. In 2024, Revilla allegedly asked Bernardo for funds for his re-election campaign as a senator. Bernardo prepared a list of projects worth P1.5 billion, which Revilla was to get a 25% cut.
Alcantara again would be the one to deliver the 25% to Bernardo. The cash was put in six boxes, which were loaded into Bernardo’s vehicle. Each box contained P20 million, with one paper bag containing P5 million.
“While the boxes were being unloaded, Senator Revilla and I talked for about 20 to 25 mins. I asked him: ‘Sen, why aren’t you campaigning?’ Senator Bong replied: ‘It is okay pare. The results of the survey are good. Relax first.’”
Bernardo also doubled down on his prior accusations against Department of Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, this time saying that they also transacted on behalf of Education Secretary Sonny Angara, who was then the Senate Chairman of Finance.
Bernardo’s full sworn affidavit can be read here:
Former DPWH Usec. Roberto Bernardo’s Second Supplemental Affidavit by jinmangaluz