Former Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero Dragged into the Flood Control Mess
CHIZ ESCUDERO – The former Senate President is accused of receiving around P160 million kickback from the flood control projects by former Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.
Amid the flood control mess in the Philippines, both the Senate and the House of Representatives had a change of leadership. In the lower chamber, presidential cousin and Leyte Congressman Martin Romualdez resigned from being the House Speaker after controversial contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya accused him of allegedly receiving kickbacks from the flood control projects.
According to Romualdez, his decision to step down is in line with his pursuit to allow the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to fully and freely exercise their mandate. The House committee chairmanships were on status quo despite the change of leadership.
In the Senate, Sen. Chiz Escudero was ousted from being the Senate president and replaced by Sen. Tito Sotto. It came after Escudero’s name was dragged into the issue following his admission of receiving a P30-million campaign donation from one of the contractors flagged by Pres. Bongbong Marcos.
According to Escudero, the contractor behind the Centerways Construction was his long-time friend who is also from Sorsogon. He previously claimed that the issue is allegedly part of the “demolition job” to remove him from the Senate presidency.
Amid the flood control issue probe in the country now, the contractor linked to former Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero claimed that the P30-million campaign money was allegedly from his own pocket. He stressed that the amount was allegedly not from the company. Recently, another allegation against the former Senate President crossed the surface.
Based on a report on GMA News, former Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero is accused of receiving around P160 million kickback from the flood control projects by former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo. He claimed that it was him who delivered the amount which was allegedly for the Senator.
“I delivered 20% of approximately P800 million or about P160 million to Meynardo… which was meant for Senator Escudero,” Bernardo told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
Based on the report, aside from Escudero, the former DPWH Undersecretary also named former Sen. Nancy Binay and Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co. He applied under the Witness Protection Program.
Amid the flood control issue, the lavish lifestyle of former Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero’s wife, Heart Evangelista, has earned criticisms and questions. Heart Evangelista asserted the complete separation of her assets with Escudero’s.