Gatchalian: Ex-DPWH exec vows to return “kickbacks”

Former public works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, one of the central figures who implicated government officials and lawmakers in alleged flood-control kickback schemes, has pledged to return the money he supposedly received, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said on Sunday.

- 

“At a very minimum, si Mr. Bernardo ay unang-una nandito sa Pilipinas, hindi siya tumakbo. Panglawa, kita ko doon sa kanyang statement, meron siyang remorse o humihingi siya ng patawad sa taumbayan at ibinalik niya yung kanyang mga ninakaw,” Gatchalian told dzBB.

Asked whether Bernardo had already returned the money, Gatchalian said restitution is part of the process for becoming a state witness.

“Sa alam ko yan. Remember doon sa para maging state witness ka, kailangan merong restitution. “Di ba? Parte yan eh. Parte ng Memorandum of Agreement na kanilang pipirmahan, ay andun yung restitution. Ibig sabihin, ibabalik,” he said.