Nasorpresa si MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III sa biglang paglutang ng isyu na lumapit sa kanya si dating DPWH Roberto Bernardo noong nakaraang taon para mabigyan ng proteksyon.
Isiniwalat kamakailan ni Senate President Pro Tempore at Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo Lacson na nakatanggap siya ng impormasyon na tinangka ni Torre na isailalim sa kanyang kustodiya si Bernardo.
Nilinaw ni Torre na isang kaibigan niyang pari ang tumawag sa kanya para humingi ng tulong upang mabigyan sana ng proteksyon ang isang vital witness ngunit hindi niya agad nalaman na si Bernardo pala ito hanggang nang magkaharap sila sa isang meeting noong Oktubre 9, 2025.
“I was very surprised when that issue came out because it happened last year, October 9 I recalled in my calendar,” ani Torre sa panayam sa The Big Story sa One News kagabi.
“A priest that I respect called me and asked for my help in securing a witness. He said that a witness who is very vital sought their help in securing himself. So since they don’t have that capability for whatever reason, he contacted me and we had meeting and in that meeting I saw Usec Bernardo together with his 3 children, one female and two male, grown-up children, I would like to qualify that, with his lawyer,” lahad niya.
Inamin ni Torre na wala na siyang kapangyarihan para ipagkaloob ang seguridad na kinakailangan ni Bernardo kaya pinayuhan niya ito na dumulog sa Witness Protection Program (WPP).
“My first instinct was of course to say, How can I protect you, I’m no longer the chief PNP. I myself don’t’ have a job right now . I don’t have the resources. I don’t have the authority, better go to the WPP or the Witness Protection Program because that is the proper agency that can give you the security that you’re looking for because if you’ re afraid of your life, then WPP is the place,” sabi ni Torre.
Nang tanungin si Torre kung may binanggit si Bernardo sa kanya kung bakit ito natatakot, tugon niya, “If I recall it right. There were these series of affidavits that’s being demanded of him and he was saying he just wants to opt out which I told him it’s your decision.”
Ayon kay Torre, sinabi ni Bernardo na matapos ang dalawang araw na medical check-up ay magpapasya siya kung pupunta sa WPP. Mula noon, hindi na sila muling nag-usap o nagkita hanggang sa mabalitaan na lamang ni Torre na sumailalim na si Bernardo bilang saksi sa WPP.
Nakatakdang humarap si Bernardo sa pagdinig ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee sa Lunes, Enero 19, kaugnay ng maanomalyang flood control projects, at inaasahang ilalahad niya ang mga detalye ng kanilang pagkikita ni Torre. (ROSE NOVENARIO)