Jamaine Punzalan

Senate President Francis Escudero presides over the plenary session of the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on August 6, 2025.
Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

SENATE- IMPEACHMENT VOTE- SC DECISION

<div><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XKNVP-gcn78" title="LIVE: Senate Blue Ribbon Committee resumes hearing on anomalous flood control projects | Sept 25" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>MANILA — Sen. Francis Escudero on Thursday said former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo’s allegation that he and other senators accepted kickbacks for infrastructure projects was part of a “well-orchestrated plan to attack the Senate and its members.” </p><p>Bernardo earlier in the day claimed he delivered the payoffs meant for Escudero to the senator’s campaign donor Maynard Ngu.</p><p>Escudero rejected Bernardo’s “malicious allegations and innuendos.”</p><p>“By his own admission, he never had any contact with me directly regarding this matter—and I will prove that he is lying about my alleged involvement,” Escudero said  in a statement. </p><p>“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 added. </p><p>Escudero questioned why Bernardo failed to mention Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. </p><p>“Kung babasehan natin ang testimonya ni Usec. Bernardo, wala sila lahat kasalanan o kinalaman dito. Di naman ata ito kapani-paniwala,” the senator said. </p><p>“Sobra naman nang paglilihis at paglayo nila sa tunay na salarin ang sarswelang ito!”</p><p>But Bernardo in his affidavit had mentioned that Co allegedly asked for a 25-percent commission, which was delivered by former Bulacan engineer Henry Alcantara. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/ex-dpwh-exec-roberto-bernardo-admits-wrongdoing-in-flood-control-fiasco-0916">Ex-DPWH exec Roberto Bernardo tags Escudero, Co, Revilla, Binay in kickbacks</a></div><p>Escudero said he was ready to fight Bernardo’s allegations and would file a complaint against the former DPWH official.  </p><p>“For more than 27 years in public service, I have never once been charged with corruption. That record speaks for itself,” Bernardo said. </p><p>“I believe that when all the facts are revealed, my name and my service will remain untarnished,” he added. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/24/escudero-appears-before-ici-to-shed-light-on-budget-questions-1531">Escudero appears before ICI to shed light on budget questions</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/9/24/heart-evangelista-maintains-she-has-complete-separation-of-assets-with-husband-chiz-escudero-1531">Heart Evangelista maintains she has ‘complete separation of assets’ with husband Chiz Escudero</a></div><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Sen. Francis Escudero on Thursday said ex-DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo’s allegation that he and other former senators accepted kickbacks for infrastructure projects was part of a “well-orchestrated plan to attack the Senate and its members.”</p>

Sen. Francis Escudero on Thursday said ex-DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo’s allegation that he and other former senators accepted kickbacks for infrastructure projects was part of a “well-orchestrated plan to attack the Senate and its members.”

Escudero says Bernardo’s kickback claims part of ‘well-orchestrated plan to attack Senate’

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Escudero says Bernardo’s kickback claims part of ‘well-orchestrated plan to attack Senate’

Jamaine Punzalan

Published September 25, 2025 11:21 AM PHT

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Roberto Bernardo

Chiz Escudero

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