ESCUDERO VOWS TO SUE EX-DPWH OFFICIAL OVER KICKBACK ALLEGATIONS

SENATOR Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Thursday said he will file charges against former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo over allegations that he received kickbacks from flood control projects of the government.

Escudero denied the accusations made by Bernardo during Thursday’s (Sept. 25) hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee into flood control anomalies.

“I vehemently deny the malicious allegations and innuendos made by former DPWH Usec. Roberto Bernardo in today’s Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. 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.

The lawmaker described the allegations “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.”

“Puro talaga senador ang tinuturo? Nasaan si Zaldy Co? Nasaan na si Rep. Martin Romualdez sa lahat ng ito?Nasaan ang mga kasabwat nya? Kung babasehan natin ang testimonya ni Usec. Bernardo, wala sila lahat kasalanan o kinalaman dito. ‘Di naman ata ito kapani-paniwala,” he lamented.

“Sobra naman nang paglilihis at paglayo nila sa tunay na salarin ang sarswelang ito!” he added.

The former Senate president said he will file appropriate charges against Bernardo for  what he described as baseless accusations.

“For more than 27 years in public service, I have never once been charged with corruption. That record speaks for itself. I believe that when all the facts are revealed, my name and my service will remain untarnished,” Escudero said.