NBI recommends filing of malversation cases vs. Escudero, Binay after Bernardo's Senate Blue Ribbon testimony
The National Bureau of Investigation on Thursday, Sept. 25, recommended the filing of malversation cases against Sen. Chiz Escudero and Makati Mayor Nancy Binay, in relation to the flood control project corruption scandal.
The NBI recommendation came as ex-Department of Public Works and Highways Usec. Roberto Bernardo accused Escudero and Binay, as well as Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and Department of Education Usec. Trygve Olaivar, of being involved in kickbacks in anomalous infrastructure projects.
During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing earlier, Bernardo said he has been a longtime friend of Maynard Ngu, a campaign donor of Escudero, who gave him a list of projects. Ngu asked him to meet with Escudero, who told him, "Alam ko naman galawan niyo sa DPWH. Sabihin mo kay Sec., magbaba sa 'kin.”
"After the inclusion of projects in the [General Appropriations Act], I delivered 20% of approximately P800 million, or about P160 million, to Maynard Ngu, which was meant for Sen. Escudero,” Bernardo said, later adding that this happened in the first quarter of 2025.
He also claimed to have personally made cash deliveries to Ngu's office in Manila.
In a supplemental affidavit, Bernardo said he received a list of projects from the senator's brother-in-law, including a street light project in Sorsogon that Escudero mentioned to him during former DPWH Sec. Manuel Bonoan's confirmation hearing in 2022.
As for Binay, Bernardo claimed that he delivered around P37 million to her Quezon City residence.
Bernardo alleged that Olaivar, who once worked for former senators Revilla and now-DepEd Sec. Sonny Angara, met with him to discuss unprogrammed allocations supposedly for the office of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. Olaivar also allegedly asked for kickbacks in projects worth P2.85 billion, which he has denied.
Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco also accused Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Co of inserting billions of pesos in the national budget to fund ghost infrastructure projects. Tiangco filed an ethics complaint case against Co amid the allegations, as well as his absence in the 20th Congress since it started on July 28.
Revilla and Co, meanwhile, previously denied involvement in the alleged DPWH kickback schemes after dismissed Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara mentioned their names.
Freeze order requested
Escudero and Binay, in separate statements, denied the allegations made by Bernardo.
However, Justice Secretary Boying Remulla on Thursday announced that a request has been made to freeze their assets. Additionally, an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order has been issued against them.
Ed's note: An earlier version of this article included Romualdez among those recommended for the filing of malversation cases. This information has been corrected.
