Ex-DPWH exec Bernardo: P160-M kickbacks for Escudero delivered in Q1 of 2025

Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo on Thursday claimed that the alleged delivery of P160 million worth of commissions off infrastructure projects for Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero happened in the first quarter of this year. 

Escudero served as Senate President from May 2024 until he was replaced by Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on September 8, 2025. 

In his supplemental affidavit read during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing, Bernardo said that in 2023, Maynard Ngu — a close friend and campaign contributor of Escudero — told him to meet the senator in a private room at Cork Wine Bar.

“While we were drinking wine, he told me, ‘Alam ko naman ang galawan ninyo diyan sa DPWH. Okay naman ako. Sabihin mo kay Sec. magbaba sa’kin.’ (I know what you’re doing there in the DPWH. Tell Sec to give me money). Also, the delivery of the P160 million for Senator Chiz…happened some time in the first quarter of 2025,” he said. 

“Around July 2025, I had a chance encounter with Senator Chiz Escudero and Maynard Ngu at the Cork. Senator Chiz Escudero approached me, shook my hand, and said to me, ‘Thank you,’” he added. 

Bernardo also recalled that while he was attending the confirmation hearing of former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan in August 2022, Escudero summoned him to his room. 

Bernardo said that Escudero told him then, “Hindi na ako bababa doon sa [Commission on Appointments]. Marami pa akong kulang na streetlights sa Sorsogon, ano ba magagawa ninyo para sa akin?"

(I won’t go down to the CA. Many streetlights are still lacking in Sorsogon, what can you do for me?) 

The former DPWH official said that he relayed such to Bonoan. 

“Subsequently, I received from the brother-in-law of Senator Chiz Escudero a list of projects which included the aforesaid streetlights project. He asked me to confirm if that streetlights project was the one for Senator Chiz which I did,” he added. 

Earlier on Thursday, Bernardo implicated Escudero amid the investigation into anomalous and ghost flood control projects.

In his initial affidavit, Bernardo said that Ngu asked him to submit a list of projects, some of which were included in the General Appropriations Act. Bernardo testified that after he gave Ngu the list and asked him how to proceed, Ngu told him that it is up to him. He asked if 20% was acceptable and he said Maynard affirmed that it is.

‘Malicious allegations, innuendos’

In response, 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.” — RSJ, GMA Integrated News