Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero strongly denied being involved in corruption following the testimony of former Department of Public Works and Highways undersecretary Roberto Bernardo before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
“I vehemently deny the malicious allegations and innuendos made by former DPWH Usec. Roberto Bernardo in today’s Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. By his own admission, he never had any contact with me directly regarding this matter. I will prove that he is lying about my alleged involvement,” Escudero declared in a statement on Thursday.
The senator said the accusations appear to be part of a wider effort to discredit the Senate and divert attention from those truly responsible. “It seems like there is a well-orchestrated plan to attack the Senate and its members to destroy and discredit the institution and to divert the public’s attention from the real perpetrators,” he added.
Escudero questioned why the testimony zeroed in on senators while other names mentioned by Bernardo, such as Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, were not pursued with the same scrutiny. “Puro talaga senador ang tinuturo? Nasaan si Zaldy Co? Nasaan na si Rep. Martin Romualdez sa lahat ng ito? Nasaan ang mga kasabwat niya?” he asked.
He criticized what he described as attempts to mislead the public. “Sobra naman ang paglilihis at paglayo nila sa tunay na salarin ang sarswelang ito!” Escudero stressed, adding that he would file appropriate charges against Bernardo for the accusations.
“Maging ganoon pa man, haharapin at lalabanan ko ito at maghahain ng karampatang demanda laban kay Usec. Bernardo sa mga binitiwan niyang walang saysay at basehan na paratang,” he said.
Escudero also highlighted his decades in government service, pointing out that his record remains untainted. “For more than 27 years in public service, I have never once been charged with corruption. That record speaks for itself. I believe that when all the facts are revealed, my name and my service will remain untarnished.”
Bernardo, who recently admitted to involvement in anomalous flood-control projects, has implicated several lawmakers including Escudero, Bong Revilla, Nancy Binay, and Zaldy Co. He is now under the Department of Justice’s protection while officials assess his sworn statement.
