Former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin strongly denied claims tying him to the alleged handling and oversight of inserted funds in the proposed 2025 national budget.
During the Senate deliberation on the 2026 national budget, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson revealed that former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo told him he had been advised by former Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar not to brief then-DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan on details of a supposed ₱52 billion segment of an ₱81 billion insertion under DPWH.
Bersamin rejected any suggestion that he spoke with or instructed Bonoan regarding the ₱52 billion portion of the claimed ₱100 billion insertion. He said Bernardo’s statements should not be considered credible, adding that Bernardo’s accounts relied on hearsay and secondhand information.
Bernardo previously admitted his involvement in delivering kickbacks tied to certain government projects.
Malacañang has not issued a statement on the information disclosed during the Senate session.
