Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) chairperson Andres Reyes Jr. on Wednesday said the commission has deferred the referrals it was seeking to file against three sitting or former senators over anomalous flood control projects.
The ICI chair said this is due to the supplemental affidavit of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.
Reyes said, “We are re-evaluating everything because of the affidavit of Usec. Bernardo. So we’re studying that. So we will have a delay of maybe 10 days from last Friday.”
Bernardo, in his new affidavit, implicated more individuals, including former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, as among those who received kickbacks in infrastructure projects.
The former DPWH official admitted facilitating alleged kickbacks for Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Mark Villar, Education Secretary Sonny Angara, former senators Grace Poe and Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay, former Caloocan Rep. Mitch Cajayon-Uy, San Jose del Monte Mayor Rida Robes, and former DPWH undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.
Earlier, the ICI recommended the filing of complaints against Estrada and Senator Joel Villanueva.
On the other hand, Reyes welcomed the Office of the Ombudsman’s filing of a case against former lawmaker Zaldy Co, several DPWH Region 4B officials, and Sunwest Corporation directors with the Sandiganbayan.
He said the filing is a “hard-earned victory” and a “triumphant step forward.”
Reyes said that the machinery of law and due process is working as it should, adding this is a triumph for the country and an encouragement to the employees of the ICI.