MANILA — Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero is facing plunder, graft and indirect bribery complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged P586 million in kickbacks tied to flood control projects across several provinces and cities nationwide.
The Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office recommended the filing of charges against Escudero in April following a motu proprio investigation into the alleged irregularities involving Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood control projects.
Investigators alleged that Escudero indirectly received a total of P586 million in kickbacks — consisting of P306 million and another P280 million — from various flood control projects implemented in different parts of the country.
The complaint relied heavily on the testimony of former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, who claimed the money was delivered to businessman Maynard Ngu, identified in the complaint as Escudero’s friend, campaign donor and alleged intermediary.
“In February 2024, Usec. Bernardo, together with his driver Francisco A. Dela Fuente, allegedly delivered P306 million to Mr. Ngu at his office in Cherry Mobile Building, Manila,” the complaint stated.
Investigators also cited two additional alleged deliveries in early 2025 amounting to P160 million and P120 million, which were supposedly received by Ngu on behalf of Escudero.
The alleged kickbacks were reportedly linked to flood control projects in Caloocan, Muntinlupa, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Aklan, Albay, Batangas, Bohol, Camarines Sur, Capiz, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Subic and Zambales.
Escudero, however, denied all allegations and insisted there was no evidence directly linking him to the supposed transactions.
“I did not authorize Maynard Ngu … to act on my behalf, and there is no evidence that I ever did,” Escudero said in his counter-affidavit.
“Complainant’s basis for my supposed receipt of both the P306 million and P280 million is merely the alleged representations of Mr. Ngu that he supposedly received the said amount on my behalf. The complainant completely failed to present proof of the multiple circumstances that would have proven my supposed receipt of the P306 million and P280 million,” he added.
The senator also questioned Bernardo’s credibility, claiming the former DPWH official made “different, evolving, and materially inconsistent allegations.”
Escudero pointed out that Bernardo’s earlier affidavits submitted to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee did not mention the alleged P306-million payoff.
“The most glaring inconsistency is the change of amount involved. There is a complete absence of the alleged P306 million delivery … It appeared for the first time only in his affidavit dated 13 March 2026 — submitted after the Ombudsman’s motu proprio investigation had already commenced,” Escudero said.
He also opposed moves to grant immunity to Bernardo and three other individuals implicated in the controversy, arguing that Bernardo appeared to be the principal actor in the alleged scheme.
“Usec. Bernardo appears to be the most guilty among the individuals implicated in the flood control scandal…He was the main point of contact, and he engaged directly with every other individual identified as alleged conspirators in the complaint,” Escudero said.
“Why would I, as ‘master plunderer,’ only receive P586 million in kickbacks whereas Usec. Bernardo received over P1 billion in kickbacks, as he admitted under oath,” he added.
The Office of the Ombudsman has yet to determine whether the complaints will proceed to the Sandiganbayan for formal trial./PN
