A Sandiganbayan justice raised pointed questions over why former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo and former district engineer Henry Alcantara appear to be getting a path to immunity despite testimony linking them to the alleged “commitment” system—an alleged kickback setup tied to flood control projects. The issue surfaced as DPWH engineer John Carlo Rivera took the witness stand and described how the scheme supposedly operated inside the agency.
During the hearing, Associate Justice Ronald Moreno openly challenged the logic: if witnesses are testifying that Bernardo and Alcantara were among the ones who designed the system, why would the state reward them with immunity in exchange for restitution and cooperation? Moreno also flagged the concern that returning money—especially if it’s only a portion of what was earned—might allow key figures to walk away while others take the fall.
Bernardo and Alcantara, according to the report, committed to return large amounts—P1 billion and P300 million, respectively—to qualify for the government’s witness protection track. But the court’s frustration sharpened further when Moreno also questioned why Rivera—who allegedly had direct participation and could offer detailed insider testimony—was not the one granted immunity, especially given his closer involvement in the mechanics of deliveries.
Rivera testified that his job included delivering collected kickbacks from contractors to Alcantara and even making deliveries to project proponents. He estimated doing this around 50 times, involving amounts ranging from P2 million to P10 million, and said he received P10,000 monthly for the role. The hearing happened within the larger malversation trial involving former Sen. Bong Revilla, where the alleged “commitment” demand has been part of the case narrative—now raising a bigger question inside the courtroom: who gets protected, and who gets punished, when the system itself is on trial?
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