Lawmakers say they noticed ‘messages’ displaying Marcos information of flood management kickbacks

Congressman Antonio Tinio says purported messages exchanged between a Palace undersecretary and Marcos contradict assertions that there was no proof linking the President to the kickback scheme

MANILA, Philippines – ACT Lecturers Consultant Antonio Tinio, endorser of the dismissed impeachment grievance in opposition to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., stated he noticed “communication data” proving that the chief govt had direct information of the kickback scheme that led to the flood management corruption scandal.

Caloocan 2nd District Consultant Edgar Erice additionally instructed Rappler he had seen the supposed messages.

One of many accusations within the petition endorsed by Makabayan was that Marcos had direct private information of the modus, citing the video statements of former Home funds chairperson Zaldy Co and the testimony of former Division of Public Works and Highways undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, amongst others.

Co had alleged that Presidential Legislative Liaisons Workplace chief Adrian Bersamin had given him a listing of initiatives price P100 billion that Marcos ordered inserted within the nationwide funds. Bernardo later testified that he delivered P8 billion in money to Bersamin and then-education undersecretary Trygve Olivar.

“There are data of communications between undersecretary Adrian Bersamin and President Marcos from December 2024 to July 2025. These embrace a message dated March 24, 2025, relating to the receipt of an P8-billion supply from Bernardo that was relayed to the President, together with the President’s acknowledgment or reply of ‘OK,’” Tinio stated in Filipino in the course of the plenary session on Tuesday, February 10.

“The message states: ‘The 7.122 supply to me is already full… I’ll end the computation in the present day,’” Tinio added.

Tinio claimed the message additionally confirmed a breakdown of how the P8 billion in kickbacks had been spent.

“This primarily included bills for candidates supported by the President within the final election, in addition to spending for election-related TV commercials, a P6-million fee to a overseas pollster, Peron, who was utilized by Malacañang as an election advisor, and P68 million as a expertise price for a performer utilized by the administration in the course of the marketing campaign,” Tinio stated.

Tinio added that the communications continued till July 2025.

“On July 10, Bersamin conveyed that he had a P2-billion supply for the President on the Narra residence in Forbes Park. The President replied, ‘I’ll inform Jun Baris.’ This was July 10. The President seems to have been receiving kickbacks simply days earlier than he went to Congress, the place he stood earlier than the chamber and stated, ‘Have some disgrace.’ So, who, precisely, needs to be ashamed?” Tinio stated.

A fast Google search indicated that Baris had, at one level, been Marcos’ head of safety.

Tinio stated that apart from Bersamin, Batangas 1st District Consultant Leandro Leviste additionally has a replica of the “file of communications.” The Makabayan lawmaker added that Leviste additionally confirmed the textual content messages to Erice.

“In brief, there may be robust proof supporting the allegation that the President knew — and knew very properly — concerning the corruption in flood management initiatives, instantly took half in it, and obtained kickbacks from it,” Tinio stated.

Rappler has requested for Malacañang’s response however has but to obtain a response.

The Home overwhelmingly junked the impeachment complaints in opposition to Marcos on Tuesday, with 284 lawmakers out of 296 Home members current voting in favor of dismissal.

“These complaints fail to determine a factual nexus between the President and any impeachable offense. They try and reframe mere coverage disagreements and routine govt capabilities as a betrayal of public belief with none displaying of dangerous religion or malice,” committee chairperson Gerville “Jinky” Luistro stated. – Rappler.com