Lacson Testimony Clears Marcos and Romualdez in Alleged DPWH Kickback Scheme
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A recent Senate exposé has cast doubt on claims that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez received funds related to alleged kickbacks within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), according to statements made by Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Wednesday. The developments stem from sworn testimony revealing a different set of individuals allegedly involved in the scheme.
Shifting Accusations and a Sworn Testimony
The controversy began with allegations made by former Rep. Zaldy Co, who claimed to have delivered money to both President Marcos Jr. and former Speaker Romualdez. However, these claims are now being challenged following disclosures made by Senator Panfilo Lacson during Senate budget deliberations. Lacson presented information derived from a sworn testimony by former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.
According to Bernardo’s testimony, he personally managed PHP52 billion in alleged kickbacks originating from an estimated PHP81 billion of PHP100 billion in budget insertions directed towards the DPWH. Former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan allegedly oversaw PHP19 billion.
“Not the President, not former Speaker Romualdez – both were falsely dragged into allegations that the evidence dose not support.The names do not match the accusations made by Co,” Adiong stated in a news release.
focus Shifts to Former DPWH Undersecretaries
Adiong, who also chairs the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, emphasized the lack of evidence linking the President or former Speaker Romualdez to the alleged budget insertion scheme. “The only testimony on record points to a different set of individuals altogether,” he added.
The lawmaker is now urging the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to concentrate its investigation on the two former undersecretaries specifically implicated by Bernardo’s testimony. “It is indeed only right that the inquiry follows the evidence — not fabricated narratives,” Adiong asserted.
The Importance of Verifiable Evidence
Adiong underscored the necessity of relying on sworn testimony and verifiable documentation in public investigations.He cautioned against building cases on “political narratives that collapse under the weight of real evidence,” stating that “unproven accusations only mislead the public and unjustly damage reputations.”
He further called for all parties involved to remain focused and allow investigators to conduct their work without interference. “our people deserve a process grounded in truth, not noise. Senator Lacson’s exposé puts the facts on the table.Let us act on those facts — nothing more, nothing less,” adiong concluded. (PNA)
Why: Allegations of a PHP81 billion kickback scheme within the DPWH surfaced, initially implicating President Marcos Jr. and former Speaker Romualdez.
Who: key figures include President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, former Rep. Zaldy Co, Senator Panfilo Lacson, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, and former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan. Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong played a central role in highlighting the shifting evidence.
What: Senator lacson’s presentation of sworn testimony from Roberto Bernardo revealed that the alleged kickbacks were managed by former DPWH undersecretaries, not the President or former Speaker.
How did it end?: Rep.
