Ex-DPWH official Bernardo tags Escudero, Binay, Revilla in flood management ‘kickbacks’

(1st UPDATE) Former DPWH official Roberto Bernardo alleges that Senator Chiz Escudero acquired an P160-million kickback, whereas former senators Bong Revilla and Nancy Binay acquired P125 million and P37 million, respectively

MANILA, Philippines – Former Division of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo on Thursday, September 25, named Senator Chiz Escudero and former senators Bong Revilla and Nancy Binay as recipients of alleged kickbacks from questionable authorities flood management tasks.

Bernardo made the claims throughout a Senate listening to, his first look as a witness. He alleged that he personally delivered P160 million – 20% of P800 million price of presidency tasks – to Maynard Ngu, a buddy and marketing campaign donor of Escudero, reportedly on the senator’s behalf.

“I personally submitted an inventory of tasks to Maynard Ngu, and among the objects therein pertaining to Valenzuela and Marinduque tasks have been subsequently included within the Normal Appropriations Act…. After I gave him the record and in relation to the dedication, I requested him, ‘Boss, paano to? Maynard replied, bahala ka na. I requested, Boss, okay na ba ang 20%? Maynard mentioned, okay‘ (Boss, what ought to I do? Maynard replied, it’s as much as you. I requested, Boss, is 20% okay? Maynard mentioned, it’s okay),” Bernardo mentioned, as he learn his sworn affidavit.

“I wish to add that deliveries of money have been personally made to me, by me, to Maynard Ngu at his workplace in Manila,” Bernardo added.

Based mostly on Escudero’s Assertion of marketing campaign Contributions and Expenditures, Ngu donated P30 million to Escudero’s marketing campaign in 2022, among the many senator’s high donors.

Bernardo additionally confirmed earlier testimony of implicating former senator Bong Revilla. He mentioned that he met Revilla in 2024 in Makati the place he gave an inventory of tasks given to him by former DPWH Bulacan 1st District engineer Henry Alcantara.

“Senator Revilla requested for a dedication, which I recommended, then he authorized at 25% of the overall quantity of the tasks indicated within the record right here to connect as Annex,” Bernardo alleged.

Bernardo mentioned he conveyed Revilla’s request for extra funds to help his 2025 senatorial marketing campaign. He claimed that Alcantara collected the agreed 25% share, amounting to a complete of P125 million. Bernardo claimed he personally delivered the cash to Revilla’s residence in Cavite.

In Binay’s case, Bernardo mentioned her workers member, Carline Villa, allegedly contacted him to request a 15% dedication for the previous senator in 2024. He described Villa as Binay’s “trusted confidant.”

“I relayed the 15% dedication to engineer Alcantara. Engineer Alcantara collected 15% dedication or about P37 million which was turned over to me and which I then delivered to senator Binay at a home in Quezon Metropolis,” Bernardo alleged.

Escudero and Binay have been added to the record of senators named by Alcantara throughout Tuesday’s listening to. In that session, he additionally recognized Revilla, together with Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva, in reference to alleged kickbacks from flood management tasks.

Responding to the allegations, Escudero mentioned, “I vehemently deny the malicious allegations and innuendos made by former DPWH Usec. Roberto Bernardo in at present’s Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. By his personal admission, he by no means had any contact with me straight relating to this matter — and I’ll show that he’s mendacity about my alleged involvement.”

Binay and Revilla have but to launch a press release. We’ll replace this story as soon as they do. – Rappler.com