Senator JV Ejercito and former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo on Tuesday confirmed allegations by Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco that infrastructure projects were being “sold” in the House of Representatives.

During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on anomalous flood control projects on Monday, Ejercito asked Bernardo to explain Tiangco’s revelation of the scheme in the Lower House.

“Congressman Toby Tiangco said there’s a scheme in the Lower House involving the selling of projects. Based on your knowledge, can you explain how this happens?” Ejercito asked in the vernacular.

Ejercito noted that the Senate had no prior information about such a modus operandi, and pressed Bernardo further: “Can you identify who’s involved in the buying and selling of projects? Since you’re in the Witness Protection Program, is it possible for you to tell the committee which projects are being peddled? Does this happen in the Senate, or just in the House?”

In response, Bernardo confirmed the existence of the scheme in the House, explaining how it worked, based on his experience.

“As far as I know, if projects are involved, the proponent coordinates with regional directors and district engineers about projects in their districts or regions,” Bernardo said. “After that, there’s a proponent who calls a meeting, saying who released the project. We respect the authority of the person who released it — they have the right over the project.”