FORMER Public Works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo testified Tuesday that he received P130 million from the fugitive former congressman Zaldy Co between 2023 and 2025 as a “balato” or token of gratitude for making sure that anomalous flood control projects would go smoothly. Testifying as a state witness before the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division, where Co and 14 others are facing malversation charges over an anomalous flood control project in Oriental Mindoro, Bernardo said he received P40 million in 2023, P40 million in 2024, and P20 million in 2025 from former district engineer Henry Alcantara of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). He also testified that he received P10 million a year from 2023 to 2025 from the driver of former DPWH regional director Gerald Pacanan, who is an accused in the case. Bernardo, who said he was afraid to turn the kickback down, said Pacanan told him the money was from Co. He said he has since turned over the money to the government. When Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez, division chairman, asked Bernardo what the money was for, he said it was “a token of gratitude” for guaranteeing Alcantara to Co. Tuesday’s hearing centered on an anomalous P289-million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, that was awarded to Sunwest, a company that Co founded. The Commission on Audit (COA) had flagged the project for “serious structural deficiencies,” noting it was not built according to specifications. Co is the primary accused in the case, but was declared a fugitive from justice in December 2025 after failing to return to the Philippines from abroad. Nine former regional DPWH officials are also on trial: Pacanan, Gene Ryan Altea, Ruben Santos Jr., Dominic Serrano, Felisardo Casuno, Lerma Cayco, Juliet Calvo, Dennis Pelo Abagon, and Montrexis Tamayo. Five Sunwest officials were also accused: Aderma Angelie Alcazar, Cesar Buenaventura, Consuelo Dayto Aldon, Noel Yao Cao, and Anthony Ngo. Bernardo and Alcantara, who were implicated in the broader flood control scandal, are now testifying as state witnesses under the Witness Protection Program.