MANILA — Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero has categorically denied any involvement in flood control projects in his home province of Sorsogon or elsewhere in the country, amid reports linking him to a contractor that secured billions of pesos in public infrastructure deals.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, August 12, Escudero refuted claims that he influenced the awarding of flood control contracts to Centerways Construction and Development Inc., whose president, Lawrence Lubiano, donated ₱30 million to Escudero’s 2022 Senate campaign—roughly 20% of his declared contributions.

“For the record, wala akong kinalaman sa pag-identify, paggawa ng program of work, pag-bid, pag-award, pagbayad, pag-inspeksyon ng anumang proyekto sa pamahalaan—sa Sorsogon man o sa labas ng lalawigan ng Sorsogon,” Escudero said.

The controversy emerged after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. disclosed that 15 contractors cornered ₱100 billion —or 20%—of the government’s ₱545-billion flood control budget from July 2022 to May 2025. Among them was Centerways, which reportedly secured ₱5.16 billion worth of projects, mostly in Sorsogon and the Bicol Region.

Escudero clarified that most of Centerways’ contracts were awarded before he returned to the Senate in 2022, following his term as Sorsogon governor from 2019 to 2022. He emphasized that he has no business ties with the company and has never been a contractor or supplier for government projects since entering public service in 1998.

“Wala at hindi ko alam nga kung ano man ‘yun dahil hindi ako bahagi ng kanyang kumpanya at wala akong pakialam sa kanyang negosyo,” he added.

According to a Rappler report published on August 11, 54 flood control projects awarded to Centerways Construction, owned by Lawrence Lubiano, are concentrated in Sorsogon, Escudero’s home province. Of these, 36 projects are located in the first district of Sorsogon, which is considered Escudero’s political stronghold.

Escudero alleged that the timing of the report was politically motivated, describing it as part of a “demolition job” intended to undermine his leadership ahead of a potential impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte in early 2026.

“The article against me, in relation to the flood control controversy of President Marcos Jr. yesterday, is malicious and ill-timed,” Escudero said. “Bakit pinagtuunan ang 1 percent na yun at hindi yung 99 percent?”

He further questioned why the focus was on his campaign donor rather than lawmakers or officials who are actual contractors or owners of firms receiving government contracts.

President Marcos has vowed to hold accountable those involved in irregularities, noting that 6,021 flood control projects worth over ₱350 billion lacked clear documentation on what structures were built or repaired.

📷 Senate of the Philippines