Metro Manila, Philippines – Former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, a principal suspect in the flood control mess, has applied for state witness status, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) said.
In a press briefing on Monday, Nov. 17, ICI executive director Brian Hosaka said Bernardo asked to waive his appearance at the ICI because of his application under the Witness Protection Program, which prohibits him from making further public pronouncements.
The former DPWH official skipped the ICI inquiry four times.
Hosaka said Bernardo has instead submitted a supplemental affidavit to the ICI, the same document he provided to the Senate blue ribbon committee during its Nov. 14 hearing.
“Given iyong provision ng batas na ipinagbabawal siyang isiwalat kung ano man iyong kanyang nalalaman or information which is connected to his application for being a state witness, then we would just have to follow the law…meaning, we cannot force him to appear,” he said.
[Translation: Given the law’s provision that prohibits him from exposing what he knows, which is connected to his application for being a state witness, then we would just have to follow the law…meaning, we cannot force him to appear.]
In the executive order that established the ICI, the commission may recommend to the Department of Justice qualified people as state witnesses based on its investigation.
Hosaka said Bernardo’s affidavit will be reviewed and may possibly be a reference of its next case referrals to the Ombudsman.
In his latest testimony, the former DPWH official tagged more sitting and former senators in multimillion-peso kickbacks and insertions on flood control deals. They were Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, former DPWH Secretary now Sen. Mark Villar, former senator now Education Secretary Sonny Angara, and former Sen. Grace Poe.
Bernardo earlier implicated Sen. Chiz Escudero, former senators Bong Revilla and now Makati Mayor Nancy Binay, and resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co in the flood control corruption.
The ICI said last week it will recommend cases against three sitting or former senators.
