Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero is facing a multi-million peso plunder complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman over his alleged involvement in a massive flood control project kickback scheme.
According to Escudero’s counter-affidavit filed last Friday—which was first reported in an exclusive by GMA Network—the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office (FIO) recommended the filing of plunder, graft, and indirect bribery charges against the former Senate leader on April 16.
The FIO alleged that Escudero received hundreds of millions of pesos in illegal commissions sourced from various infrastructure projects spanning across multiple provinces and cities, including parts of Metro Manila, Bicol, the Visayas, and Southern Luzon.
The anti-graft office built its case around the testimonies of former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, who claimed that the money was funneled through business tycoon Maynard Ngu—identified in the document as Escudero’s close friend, campaign donor, and alleged bagman.
“In February 2024, Usec. Bernardo, together with his driver Francisco A. Dela Fuente, allegedly delivered P306 million to Mr. Ngu at his office in Cherry Mobile Building, Manila,” the document read.
The FIO further detailed two subsequent deliveries in early 2025 amounting to ₱160 million and ₱120 million, both of which were supposedly collected by Ngu on the senator’s behalf.
“The alleged projects from which kickbacks were allegedly sourced are located in Caloocan City, Muntinlupa City, Quezon City, Valenzuela City, Aklan, Albay, Batangas, Bohol, Camarines Sur, Capiz, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Subic, and Zambales,” the document read.
Escudero has vehemently denied the accusations, asserting that he never authorized Ngu to transact for him and pointing out that the complaint lacks concrete evidence proving the funds ever reached his hands.
In his counter-affidavit, the senator urged the Ombudsman to reject the immunity applications of Bernardo and three other witnesses, arguing that the former DPWH official is actually the “most guilty” party in the controversy.
The Office of the Ombudsman will now evaluate the field office’s recommendations to determine if there is sufficient probable cause to formally prosecute Escudero before the Sandiganbayan.