JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday said former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo is now a “protected witness” of the Department of Justice (DOJ) amid his revelations during the sixth hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
Bernardo, in his sworn affidavit, tagged Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, former senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Nancy Binay, and education undersecretary Trygve Olaivar as among those who got kickbacks from DPWH infrastructure projects.
Olaivar is a former staff member of Revilla and former senator Sonny Angara.
Bernardo said the 15 percent commissions given to Olaiver were “supposedly for the Office of the Executive Secretary.”
“He is now considered a protected witness. We will provide him security,” Remulla said.
Bernardo was brought to the DOJ office in Manila to evaluate his sworn affidavit after attending the committee hearing.
Remulla said the DOJ will provide Bernardo with security details as a protected witness pending the evaluation of his eligibility to be a state witness.
The DOJ on Wednesday also granted protected witness status to contractors Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya and her husband Pacifico “Curlee;” and former DPWH Bulacan engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza.
