Francis Escudero Faces P586-M Plunder Complaint Over Alleged Flood Control Kickbacks
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Francis Escudero is facing a plunder complaint worth P586 million before the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged kickbacks linked to various flood control projects across the country.
Based on documents obtained by GMA News Online, the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office (FIO) recommended on April 16 the filing of plunder, graft, and indirect bribery charges against the senator.
The complaint alleged that Escudero indirectly received P306 million and another P280 million in kickbacks through Maynard Ngu, described in the complaint as the senator’s friend, campaign contributor, and alleged bagman.
According to the documents, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo and his driver Francisco Dela Fuente allegedly delivered P306 million to Ngu’s office at the Cherry Mobile Building in Manila in February 2024.
Two more alleged cash deliveries followed in early 2025 amounting to P160 million and P120 million, which investigators claimed were also received on Escudero’s behalf.
The alleged kickbacks were reportedly sourced from flood control projects located in several cities and provinces including Caloocan, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Aklan, Albay, Batangas, Bohol, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Subic, and Zambales.
Escudero denied all allegations, saying he never authorized Ngu to act on his behalf and that there was no proof linking him to the alleged transactions.
“I did not authorize Maynard Ngu to act on my behalf, and there is no evidence that I ever did,” Escudero said in his counter-affidavit.
The senator also questioned the credibility of Bernardo’s statements, saying the former DPWH official submitted “different, evolving, and materially inconsistent allegations.”
Escudero pointed out that the alleged P306-million delivery was not mentioned in Bernardo’s first three affidavits submitted before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and only appeared in a later affidavit dated March 13, 2026.
He also urged the Ombudsman to deny immunity requests for Bernardo and other individuals involved, arguing that the former DPWH official appeared to be “the most guilty” among those implicated in the alleged flood control scandal.
As of writing, the Office of the Ombudsman has yet to announce whether the complaint will be elevated before the Sandiganbayan for prosecution.
