Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero pushed back on speculation that money or legal favors shaped his alignment with the faction headed by acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, calling the suggestion baseless during a recent podcast appearance.
Pressed on rumors of an “X-deal” tied to flood control cases or a bribe handed over in a suitcase stuffed with cash, the senator brushed the claim aside and treated it as laughable.
“Asan? Asan?” Escudero said when the alleged maleta of money was raised.
He argued that the timing of the rumors made no sense, since the complaints against him predate the Senate leadership fight entirely. Of the five cases originally lodged, he said three have already been thrown out.
“Lima ang nagsampa ng kaso laban sa akin. May limang kasong pending noon… tatlo sa limang ‘yon ay na-dismiss na, napatunayan namin na wala kaming kasalanan, hinarap namin isa-isa ‘yon,” he said.
Two matters are still active, according to Escudero, who said he is working through both via standard court procedures and expects to come out cleared.
“Nakabinbin ang dalawang kaso pa, hinaharap pa rin namin. At buo ang paniniwala namin na malalampasan namin ‘yan at mapapatunayan na wala kaming kasalanan,” he said.
He insisted his legal exposure has not shifted because of the realignment, dismissing any link between the pending cases and his political choices.
“Pero hinaharap namin ‘yon at walang kinalaman ‘yan dito. Eh di sana tigil na kung may basehan. Ganoon pa rin, wala namang pagbabago,” he said.
For Escudero, nothing about his position has changed before or after the bloc shift.
“Kung ano ang sitwasyon ko bago kahapon, siya pa rin ang sitwasyon ko ngayon,” he said.
He said he is counting on the courts and the investigating bodies to confirm that no laws were broken on his part.
“Umaasa kami sa mga nag-iimbestigang ahensya o sa korte mismo… mapapatunayan namin na wala kaming ginawang mali o paglabag sa batas,” he said.
