Bernardo on saying Jinggoy got P573 million in kickbacks: It's hard to implicate a friend

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State witness and former Public Works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo on Wednesday said it wasn’t easy for him to implicate Senator Jinggoy Estrada, whom he accused of receiving kickbacks from government projects.

Bernardo made the testimony when he was quizzed by Sandiganbayan Fifth Division justices and Estrada’s counsel, Laurence Arroyo, as to why he did not implicate Estrada in his September 2025.

Bernardo only later accused Estrada of receiving “commitments” of kickbacks from government infrastructure projects in November 2025 and in his latest October 26, 2026 judicial affidavit, which claimed the amount of kickbacks Estrada received reached P573 million.

“During that time [of my first affidavit], I have no confirmation, I have no solid evidence that will prove [his involvement]. I have already in [my] mind that he is a proponent [of projects], but I have to confirm [first],” Bernardo said.

“Ang hirap po ipahamak ang kaibigan. Hindi ko po agad magagawa iyon,” Bernardo added.

(It is tough to betray a friend. I cannot do that easily.)

Bernardo also pointed out that his previous affidavit, made prior to 2026, provides that given the complexities in the case, he reserved his right to “execute a supplemental affidavit if warranted.”

Bernardo also testified that the P573 million were delivered to Estrada in four installments: in November 2024, December 2024, February 2025, and June 2025.

Bernardo said he only personally delivered the commitments to Estrada in June 2025.

“It was June of 2025 when I delivered [it] with my driver,” he said.

“It was in multiples of P20 million [per sealed box] per report of Opulencia. Alam ko po na may ganoong halaga,” he said.

(I know that such is the amount.)

Gerard Opulencia is also a state witness like Bernardo and a former regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways National Capital Region District Engineering Office.

Bernardo also said that Estrada asked for P1 billion project allocation under Senate leadership fund for election spending.

Bernardo told the anti-graft court what was indicated in his judicial affidavit wherein he said Estrada told him, “Tulungan mo na lang ako diyan kasi marami pa akong tutulungan sa eleksyon.”

(Kindly help me because I will be helping a lot of people during the 2025 elections).

Asked by the Sandiganbayan justices if the request was made in person, Bernardo said it was through a phone call.

“Tawag po,” Bernardo said.

When the court held a five-minute recess a few minutes after these statements by Bernardo, Estrada asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to return to his cell in New Quezon City jail in Payatas.

Sought for comment, Estrada said he was satisfied with the cross-examination of his lawyers and that Bernardo’s testimony is inconsistent.