Former Department of Public Works and Highways undersecretary Roberto Bernardo faced pointed questions at Thursday’s Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, with lawmakers linking his admission of corruption to the debate on capital punishment.
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa asked Bernardo whether he would have taken part in anomalous transactions if the death penalty had been enforced in the country.
“Palagay ko po maraming matatakot talaga dun. Hindi ko po masasabi Mr. Chair na mawawala totally pero tiyak pong mababawasan,” Bernardo responded.
Committee chairman Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson followed with a hypothetical scenario, asking Dela Rosa to choose between life imprisonment in Muntinlupa or capital punishment. “Considering the living conditions sa Muntinlupa palagay ko piliin mo pa death penalty,” Lacson quipped.
Dela Rosa, a former Bureau of Corrections chief, countered with a wry remark about prison life. “Sir, pipiliin ko Muntinlupa. Enjoying sa Muntinlupa ha, pwede ka pa mag-negosyo dun. Iba nga dun nag ne-negosyo ng shabu eh, drug lord pa rin hanggang ngayon,” he said, drawing laughter from those in attendance.
Bernardo, who earlier admitted to involvement in irregularities in flood-control projects and has implicated several lawmakers, is currently under Department of Justice protection as authorities evaluate his sworn affidavit.
