Ex-DPWH official tags Escudero in streetlights, P160-M deal

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

TELL ALL. Former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo (center) testifies during the proceedings of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday (Sept. 25, 2025) . Also present in the hearing were Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and former DPWH Engineers Henry Alcantara and Brice Hernandez. (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)

MANILA – Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo linked Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero to a streetlights project in Sorsogon and a supposed PHP160-million fund delivery in his supplemental affidavit submitted to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

In the document dated Sept. 25, 2025, Bernardo said Escudero summoned him during the confirmation hearing of then DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan in August 2022, where the senator raised concerns about the lack of streetlights in Sorsogon.

Bernardo claimed he relayed Escudero’s request to Bonoan.

He added that he later received a list of projects, including the streetlights initiative, from Escudero’s brother-in-law.

“He asked me to confirm if that aforesaid streetlights project was the one for Senator Chiz which I did,” Bernardo stated.

The former DPWH official also alleged that businessman Maynard Ngu, described as Escudero’s close friend and campaign contributor, arranged a meeting between them in 2023 at a private room in Cork Wine Bar and Shop in Makati City.

Over wine, Escudero supposedly told him: “Alam ko naman ang galawan niyo diyan sa DPWH, okay naman ako, sabihin mo kay Sec magbaba sa akin (I know how things work at DPWH, I’m fine with it, just tell the Secretary to release it to me).”

Bernardo further said the delivery of PHP160 million for Escudero, which he referred to in his earlier affidavit, happened in the first quarter of 2025.

He claimed he had a chance encounter with Escudero and Ngu in July 2025, where the senator shook his hand and said, “Thank you.”

Escudero had earlier denied any involvement in alleged flood-control fund anomalies, branding the accusations as “baseless and politically motivated.”

He said his record as a lawmaker is “clean” and that he has never sought or benefited from projects outside of his legislative functions.

The supplemental affidavit was executed after the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation sought clarification on Bernardo’s earlier sworn statement on alleged irregularities in flood control projects now under Senate investigation.