Chiz Escudero, Nancy Binay deny links to flood control mess

Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero and former senator Nancy Binay on Thursday refuted that they had involvement in the anomalies in flood control projects, as alleged by former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.

In a statement, Escudero said that he would sue Bernardo for what he described as "malicious allegations and innuendos" made against him. 

"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," the former Senate president said. 

Escudero also raised concerns about the "well-orchestrated plan" supposedly 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 added. 

(Why is it that only senators are being linked?! Where is Zaldy Co? Where is Rep. Martin Romualdez in all this?! Where are his accomplices?! Based on the testimony of Usec. Bernardo, they are all innocent or were not involved in this. It's unbelievable.) 

Nancy's defense

Binay, meanwhile, said there is no truth to Bernardo's accusations. 

"Tahimik po tayong nagtatrabaho bilang Mayor ng Makati. Nakakagulat na nagagamit tayo para ipanglihis sa mga tunay na kailangan panagutin sa issue na ito. Madaling magbigay ng mga mali at mapanirang salaysay. But my performance in public service has always been above board and beyond a shadow of doubt," she said in a Facebook post. 

(I'm working quietly as the Mayor of Makati. I'm surprised that I'm being used as a distraction from those who really need to be held accountable in this issue. It's easy to give false and derogatory narratives. But my performance in public service has always been aboveboard and beyond a shadow of doubt.) 

During the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing, Bernardo tagged Escudero, Binay, former senators Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., and Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co to the flood control projects controversy.

In his affidavit, Bernardo said Maynard Ngu, Escudero's campaign contributor and their close friend, asked him to submit a list of projects. 

Some projects in the list Bernardo provided were eventually included in the General Appropriations Act.

Bernardo testified that after he gave Ngu the list and asked him how to proceed, Ngu said it is up to him. He asked if 20% was acceptable and he said Maynard affirmed that it is.

"After inclusion of the projects in the GAA, I delivered 20% of approximately P800 million or about P160 million to Maynard Ngu which was meant for Senator Escudero," he said.

GMA News Online has reached out to Ngu about the matter, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

The former DPWH executive also said that Binay's trusted confidant and staff called him and asked for a commitment, which was set at 15% of the total projects listed.

"Engineer Alcantara collected the 15% commitment, or about P37 million, which was turned over to me and which I then delivered to Senator Binay at a house in Quezon City," Bernardo said, referring to dismissed Bulacan first district engineer Henry Alcantara. — VDV, GMA Integrated News

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Former Usec. Bernardo referred to former Senator Nancy Binay, not Abby Binay, as previously stated in our social media post. We apologize for the error.