Manila: The Department of Justice announced that the total amount returned to the government, in connection with ghost flood control projects, has surpassed PHP611 million. This includes PHP290 million from former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Bureau of the Treasury's report revealed that Bernardo surrendered PHP140 million of the PHP290 million on March 10. As a state witness in the ghost flood control projects probe, Bernardo returned the remaining amount in five different tranches from January 13 to February 13.

Henry Alcantara, a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer, has so far surrendered PHP181.379 million of the PHP300 million he is required to return to the nation's coffers. Meanwhile, Gerard Opulencia, another former DPWH official, returned PHP120 million, and contractor Sally Santos turned over a total of PHP20 million last December.

DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez, during a press briefing, stated, "As for the amount, we know that previously, what we reported was at PHP360 million. This amount has since increased to PHP611 million. This covers not just the amount surrendered already through restitution with the department, but also those which were previously assigned by Usec. Bernardo specifically to the Department of Justice."

Martinez further clarified, "When I say assigned, we're referring to the assets, frozen assets previously, valuable assets which could not be liquidated at least at that time. But then, after valuation, after consideration of all the values of these assets, it was determined to be at PHP611 million."