Ping on P25 B for BBM: It's absolutely untrue

Bernardo: Kickbacks went to Bersamin, ex-DepEd usec

- By NEIL JAYSON SERVALLOS

Although the P100 billion in alleged bicameral insertions detailed by resigned congressman Zaldy Co is true, the claim that President Marcos ordered the additions in return for kickbacks was "absolutely untrue," according to Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson.

Speaking during the plenary debates on the 2026 budget yesterday, Lacson said he made the conclusion after he spoke with former public works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, who allegedly handled the distribution of kickbacks for politicians and public works officials.

Lacson said he and finance committee chairman Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian had independently reviewed the list Co published on social media.

"Your honor and I both know the P100 B — and both of us went through the list independently — and you and I agree that the list of the P100 B is true. It was really inserted in the bicam," Lacson said.

However, Lacson rejected Co's accompanying allegation that P25 billion or 25 percent of the amount was delivered as “commission” for Marcos.

“That I will attest as false. That is absolutely untrue or completely false,” Lacson said.

He explained that the clarification came from Bernardo, who contacted him after seeing Co’s accusation on social media.

According to Lacson, Bernardo told him that Marcos was name-dropped by two undersecretaries — Trygve Olaivar of the Department of Education (DepEd) and Adrian Bersamin of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) -in order to allegedly make Co believe that it was the President who ordered insertions in the bicam.

Lacson said Bernardo reviewed his notes and provided a detailed breakdown.

The latter reportedly told Lacson that about P81 billion of the P100 billion went to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), with P52 billion personally handled by Bernardo.