P120 million ‘balato’ from Co 1% of flood kickbacks - Bernardo
Former Philippine public works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo has testified that he received P120 million in kickbacks from fugitive congressman Zaldy Co. The funds were allegedly drawn from anomalous flood control projects, with Bernardo admitting he accepted the money as 'balato' or gratuity.
Why it matters
This confession provides evidence of systemic corruption within public infrastructure projects, impacting government accountability and public trust.
MANILA, Philippines - Former public works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo has admitted receiving P120 million from fugitive congressman Zaldy Co as "balato" or gratuity, drawn from funds for anomalous flood control projects.
In an affidavit submitted to the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division yesterday, Bernardo said he received the amount in batches - P45 million in 2023, P50 million in 2024 and P25 million in 2025.
The total amount represented one percent of the 25 percent worth of kickbacks that Co allegedly collected from funding for flood control projects, Bernardo declared.
He and former Bulacan First District public works engineer Henry Alcantara reportedly each received one percent of the kickbacks.
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