Former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan had discretion over a P10-billion lump-sum fund set aside supposedly for lawmakers seeking infrastructure project allocations, then DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo told the Sandiganbayan on Tuesday.

Testifying as a state witness in the malversation case against former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and six others over alleged ghost flood control project worth P92.8-million in Pandi, Bulacan, Bernardo said the P10-billion fund was incorporated into the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

He said fund releases depended on Bonoan’s approval after lawmakers submitted the required documents.

Bernardo also described what he alleged was a long-running scheme in the awarding of public works contracts. He said biddings were often merely “simulated” because the winning contractor had already been chosen even before the NEP was finalized.

According to him, lawmakers would endorse their preferred contractors to the Department of Public Works and Highways, after which the contractors would coordinate with the district engineering offices concerned.

To give the procurement process the appearance of legitimacy, other contractors were invited to join the bidding and were paid a “sahod” or allowance to do so by the pre-selected contractor.

He clarified, however, that not every contractor who participated in the bidding was part of the conspiracy, noting that legitimate biddings also took place.

Bernardo also contradicted the earlier testimony of former district engineer and fellow state witness Henry Alcantara, insisting that no DPWH project was included in the national budget without Bonoan’s knowledge.

Bernardo further alleged that infrastructure projects came with a 15-percent kickback, which he claimed was divided among Bonoan, the late DPWH undersecretary Cathy Cabral, and himself.

He said 50 percent of the kickback amount allegedly went to Bonoan, while he and Cabral split the remaining half.

All except for Ping

Bernardo also told the court that Revilla received P2 billion worth of infrastructure allocations in the 2024 and 2025 national budgets. He claimed that, except for Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, all the senators had sought project allocations.

He stressed, however, that requesting funding for projects was not illegal in itself, saying the wrongdoing happened only when the lawmakers received kickbacks from the projects.

State prosecutors told the court they intend to present Bonoan as their next witness when the trial resumes on 12 August. Bonoan has denied any wrongdoing.

In a separate case, the Sandiganbayan Second Division recently denied the prosecution’s motion to discharge Bonoan as a state witness in the graft case involving Senator Jinggoy Estrada, ruling that prosecutors may renew the request if they later satisfy the requirements under the Rules of Court.