From the Inquirer: From the Inquirer: “Almost all” senators — except Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson — requested project allocations from former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan, a state witness told the Sandiganbayan Third Division on Tuesday.

‘Almost all’ senators, ‘except Lacson,’ ask for DPWH allocations – witness

By: John Eric Mendoza – Reporter / @JEMendozaINQ
INQUIRER.net / 04:32 PM August 04, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — “Almost all” senators — except Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson — requested project allocations from former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan, a state witness told the Sandiganbayan Third Division on Tuesday.

The witness was immediately made to clarify that asking for project allocations is not necessarily illegal.

Former Department of Public Works (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo made the revelation as he was recalled to the witness stand to testify in the malversation case filed against former Sen. Bong Revilla over an alleged ghost project in Pandi, Bulacan worth P92.8 million.

Bernardo revealed that there are part of DPWH funds in which Bonoan has the discretion as to how it should be utilized.

Asked by Associate Justice Ronald Moreno to come up with an estimate as to the amount of allocation, Bernardo said: “More than P10 billion.”

Bernardo said this allocation is allotted for proponents — including senators — who would approach Bonoan to request project funding to be included in the National Expenditure Program, or the comprehensive, itemized proposed national budget prepared by the executive branch.

“When a legislator asks, what would that legislator do?” Moreno asked Bernardo.

Bernardo said they will approach Secretary Bonoan verbally.

“We’re talking of billions, then, ‘pwedeng boka-boka’ (verbal conversation is allowed)?” Moreno wanted to know.

Still, Bernardo maintained that senators are not required to write letters when requesting Bonoan for funding.

Drawing from Bernardo’s written testimony, Moreno asked: “Will you agree with me that all senators requested funding, except for Ping?”

“Almost all senators except Ping,” Bernardo affirmed.

Moreno then asked: “It is not forbidden to ask for allocations, but it only becomes wrong once they take a kickback?” Bernardo responded in the affirmative.

Bernardo, in his previous testimony on Revilla’s bail hearing, said the former senator got P1.5 billion worth of project allocations after requesting it from Bonoan.

Bernardo then said that Revilla allegedly got P500 million worth of kickbacks, encased in 15 boxes which were delivered on three different occasions from 2024 to 2025.

According to the witness, he was present in the first and third deliveries.

But despite this, he asserted that he did not get a cut from this project.

“As I have said, I did not earn from Revilla. I earned from other transactions,” Bernardo told the court.

Bernardo, who has restituted P500 million for his admission in the witness protection program, vowed to return P1 billion from the government. /apl