Call for probe mounts over alleged P8-B flood control payoffs

Caloocan City 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice on Thursday pushed for an investigation into the alleged P8-billion kickback reportedly delivered by former Department of Public Works and Highways undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.

Erice made the call after ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, who endorsed the dismissed impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., disclosed that he had seen what he described as “communication records” indicating that the Chief Executive had direct knowledge of the alleged kickback scheme linked to the flood control corruption scandal.

Erice said he had also reviewed the supposed messages stored in a USB device, which allegedly contained exchanges between President Marcos and former Presidential Legislative Liaisons Office chief Adrian Bersamin.

“Mahaba ang exchanges ng messages about billions including payment sa mga kandidato ng Alyansa and kasama rin millions payment sa entertainers which was given to Navotas Congressman Tobias ‘Toby’ Tiangco,” Erice said, adding that he later asked Tiangco about the matter and that the latter confirmed receiving money but did not know its source.

Erice said the alleged message exchanges formed part of the accusations in the petition endorsed by Makabayan, which claimed that Marcos had direct personal knowledge of the alleged modus. He cited the video statements of former House appropriations chair Zaldy Co and the testimony of Bernardo.

In a video message, Co alleged that Bersamin provided him with a list of projects worth P100 billion that Marcos allegedly ordered inserted into the national budget.

Bernardo later testified that he delivered P8 billion in cash to Bersamin and then-Education undersecretary Trygve Olivar.

Tinio claimed that records of communications between Bersamin and Marcos from December 2024 to July 2025 included a message dated 24 March 2025 about the receipt of an P8-billion delivery from Bernardo, which was allegedly relayed to the President along with the President’s acknowledgment or reply of “OK.”

The Makabayan lawmaker quoted a message that supposedly read: “The 7.122 delivery to me is already complete… I will finish the computation today,” and said it included a breakdown of how the alleged P8 billion in kickbacks were spent.

Tinio said the purported expenses included funds for candidates supported by the President in the last election, television advertisements, a P6-million payment to a foreign pollster identified as Peron, and P68 million as a talent fee for a performer used during the campaign.

He added that the communications allegedly continued until July 2025, including a 10 July message in which Bersamin supposedly conveyed that he had a P2-billion delivery for the President at the Narra residence in Forbes Park.

Tinio further claimed that the President replied, “I’ll inform Jun Baris” on 10 July and questioned the timing of the alleged exchanges.

“So, who, exactly, should be ashamed?” Tinio said.

Baris was previously identified as Marcos’ head of security.

Tinio also said that aside from Bersamin, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste allegedly has a copy of the “record of communications” and had shown the messages to Erice.

“In short, there is strong evidence supporting the allegation that the President knew — and knew very well — about the corruption in flood control projects, directly took part in it, and received kickbacks from it,” Tinio said.

Erice said a formal investigation is necessary to determine the truth behind the allegations and identify those responsible for the flood control controversy, which he said is now affecting the country’s economy.