Senators deny getting kickbacks from flood projects

Incumbent and former senators issued a flurry of denials after they were implicated by former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo in the flood control corruption scandal.

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Senators Mark Villar, Jinggoy Estrada and Francis Escudero as well as former senators Grace Poe, (now Makati mayor) Nancy Binay and (now Education Secretary) Sonny Angara have all denied getting kickbacks from their projects.

"I vehemently and categorically deny the accusations made today in the Blue Ribbon committee. Isa po itong malaking kasinungalingan," Villar said of Bernardo's allegation that he used his position as then DPWH secretary to favor his contractor cousin Carlo Aguilar.

Villar urged the public to be "more discerning and not to rush judgment" based on Bernardo's affidavit, "which may be manufactured or tailored fit for his or other people's convenience."

"I stand by my untarnished record as a long-serving public servant as a representative, DPWH secretary and senator of this Republic," Villar said.

Poe said she is "saddened by all the recent news" and that she "trust(s) that the Department of Justice will look into this string of accusations." Poe said she supports the flood control corruption probe, which was why she was "the first" to attend the hearings conducted by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.

"It's alarming that my name was mentioned today. I have never been involved in corruption; this I can clearly say to all Filipinos," Poe said.

Bernardo in his affidavit alleged that a "staff" of Poe - a certain "J.Y. Dela Rosa" requested from then DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan P500 million worth of projects to be implemented by a certain contractor "Mrs. Patron." ADPWH engineer, Gerard Opulencia, prepared the list of Poe's alleged projects in Laguna and Metro Manila, inserted in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) and successfully approved in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Bernardo said "there was a 20 percent commitment for Poe" that was "collected" by Patron at Diamond Hotel in Manila.