Senator Chiz Escudero was directly named on Thursday, September 25, as a supposed recipient of kickbacks from questionable government flood control projects, during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.
Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, in his first appearance as a witness, alleged that he personally delivered ₱160 million—20% of ₱800 million worth of projects—to businessman Maynard Ngu, a known ally and campaign donor of Escudero, supposedly on the senator’s behalf.
Reading from his sworn affidavit, Bernardo detailed how he coursed projects through Ngu, which later appeared in the General Appropriations Act. “I personally submitted a list of projects to Maynard Ngu, and some of the items therein pertaining to Valenzuela and Marinduque projects were subsequently included in the General Appropriations Act…. When I gave him the list and in relation to the commitment, I asked him, ‘Boss, paano to?’ Maynard replied, ‘Bahala ka na.’ I asked, ‘Boss, okay na ba ang 20%?’ Maynard said, ‘Okay,’” Bernardo testified. He added that cash deliveries were made directly to Ngu’s Manila office.
Bernardo also identified former senators Bong Revilla and Nancy Binay as among those allegedly benefitting from the same scheme.
Escudero, however, blasted the allegations as “malicious” and part of a “well-orchestrated plan” to destroy the Senate’s credibility. “It seems like there is a well-orchestrated plan to attack the Senate and its members to destroy and discredit the institution and to divert the public’s attention from the real perpetrators,” he said, stressing that in 27 years of public service he has never been charged with corruption and has had no dealings with Bernardo.
The senator further questioned why only his name was singled out: “Kung babasahan natin ang testimonya ni Usec. Bernardo, wala sila lahat kasalanan o kinalaman dito. Di naman ata ito kapani-paniwala.”
Despite the fiery exchanges, the Blue Ribbon probe presses on, with Escudero vowing to confront the allegations and clear his name.
