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Sen. Francis Escudero joins a plenary session, August 6, 2025. Joseph B. Vidal, OSP/File

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SENATE- IMPEACHMENT VOTE- SC DECISION

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177993903196420250806-senate-impeachment-vote-escudero-OSP-6.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sen. Francis Escudero joins a plenary session, August 6, 2025. Joseph B. Vidal, OSP/File </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday said former Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero had submitted a counter-affidavit answering the allegations of his supposed involvement in the flood control kickback scheme.</p><p>“Ang lumabas po kahapon ay yung counter affidavit niya [Escudero]. Sumagot na po siya,” Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said in an interview on DZMM.</p><p>The Office of the Ombudsman earlier announced that the plunder and graft complaints against Escudero had passed the fact-finding stage and was under preliminary investigation.</p><p>“Nasa stage pa po na ibabangga yung complaint doon po sa sagot ni Sen. Chiz,” Clavano said.</p><p>He added that based on the findings of the investigation, the office could either dismiss the complaint or recommend the filing of charges before the Sandiganbayan.</p><p>“It is submitted for resolution pending kung meron pang isa-submit ang dalawang parties… ‘pag recommendation for filing ang naging recommendation, tsaka namin gagawan ng information na ipa-file na po sa korte,” Clavano said.</p><p>The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division earlier issued a precautionary hold departure order against Escudero to <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/27/sandiganbayan-bars-escudero-ngu-from-leaving-ph-1839">bar him from leaving the country </a>while the probe was ongoing.</p><p>Escudero was tagged in the flood control scandal after former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo said in a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing that businessman Maynard Ngu asked for a list of projects in 2024 for the senator.</p><p>Bernardo also claimed P1.4 billion worth of projects in Valenzuela, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, and Quezon City were prepared for Escudero, who was reportedly entitled to a 20 percent commitment fee.</p><p>He also claimed to have delivered P160 million to Escudero at Ngu’s building in Manila, followed by a second delivery of P120 million at the same location in 2025.</p><p>Escudero has said the allegations were part of a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/29/escudero-slams-efforts-to-link-him-to-flood-budget-misuse-as-demolition-job-1619">“demolition job.”</a></p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/12/escudero-denies-hand-in-flood-control-projects-secured-by-campaign-donor-1516">Escudero denies hand in flood control projects secured by campaign donor</a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YlYJFmPZVCU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said that personalities involved in the flood control scandal have the option to return stolen public funds instead of being charged with offenses. </p><p>However, he said that the office would not settle for anything below the full amount involved.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PLUNDER VS MARCOLETA</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Clavano explained why the graft-busting body sought to prepare a plunder charge against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta over his alleged failure to disclose P75 million in campaign donations in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).</p><p>“Sa plunder law marami po kasing acts doon that can become considered plunder. Kasi ang plunder law is a combination of series of acts to be able to amass ill gotten wealth to the amount of P50 million and above,” Clavano said.</p><p>He said Marcoleta’s alleged campaign donations exceeded the nominal gifts that public officials are allowed to receive during the campaign period.</p><p>“May mga ibang acts din doon sa plunder law na walang kinalaman sa public funds… ‘Pag campaign period, bawal ka talaga tumanggap ng ganon kalaking halaga. Dahil ang nasa batas ay yung nominal gifts lang ang pwede mo kunin or pwede mo tanggapin,” Clavano said.</p><p>On Tuesday, the anti-graft court’s Seventh Division issued a<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/26/marcoleta-defensor-banned-from-travelling-abroad-over-plunder-raps-1649"> precautionary travel ban </a>against Marcoleta and his alleged campaign contributors, including former Quezon City Rep. Michael Defensor and two other businessmen.</p><p>The Ombudsman requested to prevent the senator from leaving the country following its Field Investigation Bureau’s recommendation to file plunder and indirect bribery charges against him.</p><p>Marcoleta this week said the “trumped-up” charges against him were meant to <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/25/marcoleta-says-trumped-up-plunder-raps-meant-to-punish-dissent-1539">“punish dissent.”</a></p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yVNmp3B2Yz8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday said former Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero had submitted a counter-affidavit answering the allegations of his supposed involvement in the flood control kickback scheme.</p>

The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday said former Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero had submitted a counter-affidavit answering the allegations of his supposed involvement in the flood control kickback scheme.

Escudero answers flood control kickback allegations in complaint-affidavit – Ombudsman

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Escudero answers flood control kickback allegations in complaint-affidavit – Ombudsman

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 28, 2026 11:34 AM PHT

Read More:

Sandiganbayan

Escudero

plunder

Ombudsman

restitution

PHDO

travel ban

Marcoleta

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