SENATORS REJECT ALLEGATIONS OF FLOOD CONTROL KICKBACKS

Several incumbent and former senators, including Mark Villar, Jinggoy Estrada, Francis Escudero, Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, and Sonny Angara, have denied allegations of receiving kickbacks from flood control projects made by former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.

Bernardo claimed that he delivered millions in “commissions” from government projects to the senators or their associates, detailing alleged cash transfers and percentages from multi-billion peso projects.

Villar and Poe insisted the accusations were false, urging the public to wait for proper investigations, while Binay, Angara, and Estrada also categorically rejected the claims.

Bernardo implicated other officials, including former senator Ramon Revilla Jr., describing personal deliveries of alleged kickbacks, though Revilla’s office dismissed the allegations as politically motivated and unverified.

Escudero’s counsel similarly called Bernardo’s testimony hearsay, stressing there was no direct evidence linking the senator to any criminal activity.

Source: PhilNews24 | November 15, 2025