State witness Roberto Bernardo reveals ‘balato’ scheme in Sandigan trial
Former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, acting as a state witness, exposed a "balato" (sharing of spoils) scheme involving lawmakers and public officials during a Sandiganbayan trial concerning an anomalous P289.4 million flood control project.
Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo testified as a state witness in a Sandiganbayan malversation trial on March 17, 2026, revealing a systematic 'balato' (kickback) scheme involving a P289.4 million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. Bernardo testified under oath that he received annual P10 million 'balato' payments, including P40 million total in 2023 and 2024, and P20 million in 2025 from former engineer Henry Alcantara. The case involves malversation charges against resigned Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co and 15 others, with Co having become a fugitive and remaining at large.
According to Bernardo's sworn statements, he admitted facilitating alleged kickbacks for two incumbent senators, a cabinet secretary, two former senators, a former district representative, a city mayor, and another former public works undersecretary as part of what he described as a systemic multi-year flood control kickback operation. The Commission on Audit had issued an P84 million notice of disallowance for the P289.4 million project, finding it was 'constructed not in accordance with plans and specifications.'
Bernardo is one of four state witnesses enlisted by the Department of Justice, alongside engineer Henry Alcantara, engineer Gerard Opulencia, and contractor Sally Santos. He is currently protected under the witness protection program. The trial proceedings in the Sandiganbayan's Sixth Division were scheduled to continue on March 17 and 19, 2026.
This testimony builds on Bernardo's earlier revelations during Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings in September 2025, where he accused former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan of directing project insertions worth P450 million in 2022, P150 million in 2023, and P900 million in 2024 into the national budget. Bernardo claimed these schemes involved 15% cuts from reserved allocations of at least P5 billion annually, with Bonoan allegedly taking 75% and Bernardo 25% of the kickbacks. He expressed remorse for participating in the scheme due to pressure from superiors.
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