Dismissed Bulacan first district engineer Henry Alcantara disclosed giving commission to Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo for Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva, former senator Bong Revilla, Jr., Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, and former Caloocan Rep. Mitch Cajayon.

In his affidavit, Alcantara told the Senate blue ribbon committee that  DPWH Undersecreatary Bernardo started giving my office these huge amounts of funds in 2022, and the agreement was to give a 25% cut to the proponents of the project.

“Ang para sa proponent, 25% po at may advance ito na 5% to 15% na kalimitan ang hinihingi ni Usec Bernardo, kalimitang hinihingi matapos ang deliberasyon ng bicameral conference committee),” Alcantara said, referring to the panel composed of House and Senate members reconciling the differing versions of the proposed national budget.

(25% for the proponent, but Usec Bernardo usually asked for 5% to 15% as advance payment after the bicam deliberations.)

Alcantara said Bernardo gave DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office (DEO) P350 million worth of government projects in 2022, P710 million in 2023, and P3.3 billion in 2024.

Of the P3.3 billion in 2024, Alcantara said P2.85 billion were sourced from unprogrammed funds or budget items which are funded if there are excess tax collections and other special laws providing for its funding.

“Nung naipapababa na ‘yun (pera) sa aking DO, nagpatuloy ang 25% na bayad sa proponent ng mga proyektong ito na binibigay ko kay Usec Bernardo,” Alcantara said.

(The granting of a 25% cut to proponents happened based on the list of projects I gave to Usec Bernardo.