The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines — Members of the Sandiganbayan's third division were dismayed over the testimony of Department of Public Works and Highways National Capital Region Director Gerard Opulencia for not knowing how the "commitments" for flood control projects were prepared. "Commitments" are the percentage money given by contractors and district engineers to be delivered to alleged recipients. Testifying at the bail hearing of former senator Ramon Revilla Jr. and his other co-accused at the anti-graft court on Friday, Opulencia said that he submitted the list of projects for funding to former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo. Opulencia identified before Associate Justice and Division Chairman Karl Miranda four district engineers to whom he gave these lists — Denryl Caesar Cortuna, Manny Bulusan, Ruel Umali, and Arturo Gonzales Jr. — and for whom he prepared the "commitments" for these projects. When Miranda asked if he had knowledge on how these commitments were implemented, Opulencia said that he had limited knowledge on the matter because his role was only for coordination. Miranda was visibly irked by Opulencia's response. Upon further questioning by Associate Justice Ronald Moreno, Opulencia reiterated that his only duty was to give the project list to Bernardo. Opulencia also revealed that he was ordered by the Department of Justice to return P150 million, which he said came from "pasasalamat" or "thank you" money from contractors after completing the projects. After Opulencia's testimony, Revilla told reporters that "he is now seeing the truth coming out."
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