The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot, and other sectoral groups filed graft and malversation complaints against former Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin and former Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar over their alleged involvement in a multi-billion-peso flood control corruption scheme.
According to a report by RH Val Gonzales on MBC TV Network News, the group filed the complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman on Monday, March 30, also citing violations of the Code of Conduct for Public Officials by both former officials.
Led by Bayan representative Teddy Casiño, the groups urged the Ombudsman to thoroughly investigate the roles of Bersamin and Olaivar in what they described as a widespread “commitment-insertion-kickback scheme.”
According to the group, the scheme is allegedly related to budget insertions in the national budget and various infrastructure projects, in which the two officials allegedly acted as “bagmen“ of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Obligasyon ng Office of the Ombudsman na imbestigahan si Usec. Bersamin at Usec. Olaivar dahil sila ang lumalabas na mga bagman mismo ng Pangulong Marcos...Napakalaki ng kanilang kinalaman doon sa pagnanakaw na nangyari hindi lang sa flood control anomalies kundi [pati na rin] sa iba pang infrastructure projects,” Casiño said.
According to sworn statements cited in the complaint, Bersamin and Olaivar allegedly delivered billions of pesos in kickbacks directly to the president, including a reported P8-billion payment made in multiple installments.
The complaint was filed just one day before the scheduled conclusion of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on March 31.
The ICI had previously noted that its efforts ended without holding any high-ranking government officials accountable for the alleged corruption.
“Bilang magtatapos na ang trabaho ng ICI na wala man lang matataas na opisyal na napanagot at walang nakulong, mayroong mga kaso pero iilan lamang at saka yung maliliit na isda lamang,” Casiño emphasized.
“Hindi pwede na ganyan na lamang ang mangyayari sa imbestigasyon na ‘yan. Hindi pwede na magkalimutan na lang,” he added.
Bayan stressed that the Ombudsman must conduct a full and impartial investigation to determine criminal, civil, and administrative liabilities of all individuals involved.
Casiño emphasized that the resignation of officials should not allow them to escape accountability, and systemic corruption must be dismantled to ease the burden on the country.
