Lacson: 2 got ‘kickbacks’ from insertions Co bared

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson confirmed Tuesday the statements made by resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, who claimed that P100 billion was inserted during the bicameral conference on the 2025 national budget.

However, Lacson cleared President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying that the kickbacks from the insertions went to individuals who misrepresented the president.

In his interpellation during the Senate’s plenary deliberations on the draft 2026 budget, Lacson named resigned Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Undersecretary Adrian Carlos Bersamin and Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar as those who allegedly used the President’s name to facilitate the insertions, from which they later drew kickbacks.

“I will name some of them: Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin. He name-dropped the president, making Zaldy Co believe that it was the president’s order to include in the bicam the P100-billion insertions… Now [undersecretary] Trygve Olaivar [and] other personalities.”

“Who would not believe when a Bersamin said that it was the president who ordered you to make insertions?” Lacson asked.

He added that resigned Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Adrian Carlos’ great-uncle, also allegedly signified his willingness to “take care” of P52 billion out of the P100 billion in insertions, citing information from former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.

READ: Bersamin ‘vehemently denies’ alleged link to P100-B budget insertions

He said Co’s statement, made in a video released last week, saying that P100 billion was inserted during the bicameral conference, was real.

Of that amount, P81 billion was inserted as funding items under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), while the remaining P19 billion was for other agencies, Lacson said.

“I agree the list is real and that amount was indeed inserted,” he said. “But what Zaldy Co said on social media about delivering P25 billion supposedly as the president’s 25 percent commission, I attest that is not true.”

Citing information from Bernardo, Lacson said the former DPWH official personally handled P52 billion of the P81 billion inserted in the budget for the DPWH, while former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan and Olaivar took care of the remaining P19 billion.

He said Olaivar and the younger Bersamin allegedly invoked Mr. Marcos’ authority to push for the insertions.

Lacson also cited information from Bernardo in linking the former executive secretary.

“[Bernardo] said that Olaivar prevented him from disclosing details about the P52 billion to Secretary Bonoan. Apparently, he was told not to mention it. Then Usec. Olaivar told him that Secretary Bonoan had asked Executive Secretary Bersamin several times who would facilitate this P52 billion, which would of course be included in the bicameral conference, and how would it be released? Who would facilitate it?” Lacson said.

The former executive secretary, according to Lacson, who cited Bernardo’s confession, answered: “We will take care of it.”

READ: Lacson discusses Lucas Bersamin’s alleged role in kickback scheme

Kickback deliveries

Lacson added that it was Bernardo, not Co, who made the cash deliveries from the alleged kickbacks.

“I just want to emphasize and reiterate that the President has nothing to do with it, and he did not receive P25 billion, and Zaldy Co made no delivery. According to Bernardo, ‘it’s impossible for [Co] to deliver 25 percent because I was the one who handled it; I delivered P8 billion. Where will Zaldy Co get P25 billion?’” the senator said, quoting Bernardo.

Lacson said Bernardo gave details on how Olaivar and the younger Bersamin allegedly worked out the kickback scheme, supposedly without the president’s knowledge.

The deliveries reportedly occurred from March to April this year, involving armored vans loaded with between P800 million and P2 billion each time, with the exchanges happening at the parking lot of Diamond Hotel in Manila.

The biggest delivery occurred in March, with Olaivar allegedly asking to delay the pickup due to the ongoing political tension related to the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Lacson, quoting Bernardo, said the agreed kickback share was initially set at 15 percent but was later raised to 16 percent when Olaivar supposedly wanted an additional 1 percent for himself.

Vetoed projects

The senator reiterated that it would be illogical for the president to eventually veto funding items that he supposedly sought to be inserted.

“I’m not defending the president, but in fairness to him, initially all those P100 billion on the list of projects were initially set as ‘For Later Release,’” Lacson said. “If the president knew about and ordered the insertion of P100 billion into the GAA in the bicam, why would he veto it?”

According to Lacson, from the list of proposed projects from the fund insertions, Marcos vetoed P1.15 billion.

Among these projects that were covered by the President’s veto message were the construction of a cruise port and facilities in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (P250 million); the construction of a multipurpose building (Government Center) in Barangay Gaddani, Tayum, Abra (P800 million), and the construction of a riverbank structure and irrigation system along Polo River at Sitio Lawaan, Moalboal, Cebu (P100 million). —With a report from Dempsey Reyes