Former Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero Further Dragged Into the Flood Control Mess in PH
CHIZ ESCUDERO – The Senator allegedly received around P160 million flood control kickback from a former Undersecretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Amid the flood control issue in the Philippines. Sen. Chiz Escudero was replaced with Sen. Tito Sotto in the leadership of the upper chamber. When the issue about the supposed anomalous flood control projects broke out, Escudero admitted to receiving a P30-million campaign donation from one of the contractors flagged by President Bongbong Marcos.
Then-Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero called his publicized link a to a contractor as allegedly part of a “demolition job” to remove him from the post. According to him, the contractor was from Sorsogon, too, and is his long-time friend.
The Centerways Construction contractor appeared before the flood control investigation. The contractor donor of former Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero claimed that the P30-million campaign donation came from his own pocket. He also admitted that his brothers are mayor and councilor in Sorsogon.
However, recently, former Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero is faced with another accusation that links him further to the flood control mess. Based on a report on GMA News, during an ongoing Senate flood probe today, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo claimed that Escudero allegedly received a 20% kickback from flood control projects.
“I delivered 20% of approximately P800 million or about P160 million to Meynardo… which was meant for Senator Escudero,” Bernardo said.
Aside from the former Senate President, based on the report, Bernardo also tagged former Sen. Nancy Binay and Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co in the flood control issue. However, Co who is accused of multi-billion corruption in the issue is already in the United States when the Representative’s name was dragged into the issue.
Amid the issue, the travel clearance of Rep. Zaldy Co was revoked and ordered to return to the Philippines immediately. He was given 10 days to return to the country but he has yet to heed the order. The son of Rep. Zaldy Co, Ellis Co, urged his father to face the corruption allegations against him.