SENATE President Francis “Chiz” Escudero denied on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, having any involvement in flood control projects across the country.
In a press conference, however, Escudero confirmed he is “friends” with Lawrence Lubiano, the president of Centerways Construction and Development Inc. and one of his campaign contributors in the 2022 Senate race.
He said Lubiano and he both hail from Sorsogon.
Centerways Construction and Development Inc. was one of the top 15 firms that bagged 20 percent, or P100 billion out of the total P545 billion worth flood control projects across the country from July 2022 to May 2025 based on a records publicized by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, August 11.
“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,” said Escudero.
(For the record, I have nothing to do with the identification, preparation of the program of work, bidding, awarding, payment, or inspection of any government project, whether in Sorsogon or outside the province of Sorsogon.)
“Wala at hindi ko alam nga kung ano man 'yun dahil hindi ako bahagi ng kanyang (Lubiano) kumpanya at wala akong pakialam sa kanyang negosyo,” he added.
(I have no involvement in it and I don’t even know what it is, because I am not part of Lubiano’s company and I have no interest in his business.)
Escudero also questioned the timing of the “malicious” allegations being thrown against him.
He expressed belief that the “demolition job” against him is by those who are in favor of the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, particularly from the House of Representatives.
Escudero favored the archiving of the articles of impeachment filed before the Senate by the House of Representatives after it was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court (SC) for violating the one-year bar rule.
The lower chamber has filed a motion for reconsideration on the SC’s ruling.
"Hindi principally kasamahan namin dito sa Senado. Sa pagkakaalam namin sa labas pero hindi ko alam kung may tumutulong, ka-kuntsaba, o kakumplot pero taga-labas," he said.
(They are not principally one of our colleagues here in the Senate. As far as we know, they are an outsider, but I don’t know if anyone is helping, conspiring, or colluding with them — but they are from outside.)
"Obvious naman siguro 'yun kung sino ang may pinaka-gusto ng impeachment," he added.
(It’s probably obvious who wants the impeachment the most.)
During his fourth State of the Nation Address, Marcos ordered for the conduct of an in-depth investigation on the irregularities in the flood control projects across the country in light of the recent massive floods that submerged communities during the onslaught of habagat (southwest monsoon) and the series of typhoons. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)