By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Thursday categorically denied any involvement in the allocation of funds for the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) infrastructure projects.
This came after former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, during the resumption of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearing on alleged anomalies in flood control projects, claimed that in 2024, he met with Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar to discuss the unprogrammed appropriations supposedly intended for the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES).
Bernardo alleged that Olaivar asked for a 15-percent cut from the PHP2.85 billion worth of infrastructure projects for Bersamin’s office, adding that the agreed commission was delivered at various locations in Metro Manila.
Bersamin called Bernardo’s accusation “not true.”
“I deny the imputation contained in the sworn statement of DPWH Undersecretary Bernardo submitted to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee about the delivery of an ‘agreed 15 percent commitment’ supposedly for the Office of the Executive Secretary,” he said in a statement.
“In the first place, the OES has no involvement in any way with budgetary allocations relevant to the DPWH.”
Bersamin also said his office had no dealings with either Bernardo or Olaivar, noting that the allegation had already been refuted by the Education official.
He described the claim as an attempt to damage his reputation.
“I stand by my untarnished record as a long-serving public servant, first as a career judicial officer, and now as the Executive Secretary,” he said. (PNA)
