Bernardo says P120-M ‘balato’ from Co was only 1% of ex-lawmaker’s kickbacks

MANILA — Former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo testified that the P120-million ‘balato’ or share he received from fugitive former Ako Bicol Party-List Rep. Zaldy Co was only one percent of the ex-lawmaker’s alleged 25-percent kickbacks from government infrastructure projects.

Bernardo made the testimony before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division during the trial of Co’s graft case over an allegedly anomalous road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

Bernardo told the court he wanted to correct the amount stated in his judicial affidavit, which initially said he received P100 million in “balato” from Co.

“With my deep recollection, it’s P120 million [balato] within three years,” Bernardo clarified.

In his judicial affidavit, Bernardo said he and former Department of Public Works and Highways Bulacan 1st District Engineer Henry Alcantara would split two percent of the 25 percent of the project cost allegedly set aside for proponents like Co.

Asked what the one percent share was for, Bernardo said it was a “token of gratitude” for recommending Alcantara to Co.

“This was just a token of gratitude for my having basically endorsed Engineer Henry [Alcantara] to Zaldy Co. Like I have said, I was asked by Zaldy Co if ‘maayos kausap si Alcantara’ and then I said, ‘Maayos po,’” Bernardo said in his judicial affidavit. 

“What I meant was that he’s a professional and competent,” he added.

Bernardo said he received P120 million in three tranches: P45 million in 2023, P50 million in 2024 and P25 million in 2025.

Asked what was expected of him in return for the one-percent share, Bernardo said nothing was explicitly required.

“Like I said, this was supposedly a token of gratitude from Engineer Henry. However, it was clear to me then that if I objected to the transactions of Engineer Henry and Zaldy Co, then I will be marked as an obstacle and a problem that they will have to deal with,” Bernardo said.

He also said Alcantara would update him on cash deliveries to Co “in compliance with his commitment” to the former lawmaker, but he did not know the details of those deliveries.

Bernardo also testified that he separately received P10 million per year from Co through former DPWH-Mimaropa Regional Director Gerald Pacanan, who is also an accused in the case.

He said he received P10 million from Co through Pacanan each year from 2023 to 2025, delivered in paper bags and sealed cartons.

Bernardo said Pacanan would tell him after each delivery that the money was a token of gratitude from Co.

“Pacanan mentioned to me that the balato came from Zaldy. I assumed that came from dealings of Pacanan with Zaldy. He mentioned to me may pasalamat siya na pinadala, balato from Zaldy,” Bernardo said.

Bernardo said he did not question Pacanan or Co what the money was for, but understood that the payments were connected to projects “downloaded” to Mimaropa through Co’s efforts as then chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations.

“I understand they have dealings with each other. During that time Co was chairman of the committee on appropriations, a powerful man,” Bernardo said.

Bernardo said he first met Co in 2016 at the birthday celebration of the daughter of Sen. Mark Villar, who was then DPWH secretary.