NBI witness: ‘Kickbacks’ to lawmakers standard in gov’t projects

MANILA, Philippines — It was “general knowledge” that alleged “kickbacks” given to various proponents, including senators, are given by contractors of government infrastructure projects.

This was according to NBI investigative agent III Ivan Bernard Samson, who was the prosecution’s first witness before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Tuesday during the first day of the bail hearing of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

“For all of the witnesses in all flood control cases, based on our investigation, it’s a general knowledge that all of the funds, all of the kickback money that are given to proponents are payments coming from the contractor,” he said.

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READ: Jinggoy Estrada suspended anew for plunder

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Samson also noted that the NBI was able to find seven contracts involving government infrastructure projects in Bulacan that were “attributed” to Estrada as early as September last year.

The lawmaker is currently detained at New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory after the antigraft court’s Fifth Division ordered his arrest on June 1 in connection with charges of graft and plunder.

He is accused of receiving P573.75 million in alleged kickbacks for infrastructure projects in the National Capital Region, Bulacan and Occidental Mindoro under the 2025 national budget.

“We saw links on the contractors that are attributed to different proponents, which includes Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, your honor. Specifically, in Bulacan First District Office, we found seven contracts that were attributed to him,” Samson said before the court.

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But in following the “money trail” leading to the proponents who received the kickbacks, the NBI agent also noted that the bureau could not establish a “strong link” between the contractors and the “first layer,” who are the district engineers.

“There is no strong link which gives a prima facie case with reasonable certainty of conviction,” he said.

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Despite this, Samson said the NBI considered the “totality of evidence” in its investigation before recommending the filing of charges against Estrada and his co-accused, which includes Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials Denryl Caesar Sanchez Cortuna, Manny Bumagat Bulusan, and Arturo Lombres Gonzales Jr.

Estrada’s bail hearing will continue on Oct, 27, during which the prosecution will present former Public Works Secretary Bonoan and Securities and Exchange Commission Chief Counsel RJ Bernal as witnesses.

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On Oct. 28, the prosecution will present former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo as witness. Witnesses for Oct. 29 will include ex-DPWH official Gerard Opulencia and Bernardo’s former driver and aide, Vergel Niño Garcia. /mr