Businessman Maynard Ngu refuted claims that he solicited a list of projects for 2024 for then Senate President Francis Escudero, as well as allegations of receiving money from former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.
“I absolutely deny all the allegations made by Usec. Bernardo,” said Ngu during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing last Monday.
Bernardo claimed that Ngu is the bagman of Escudero for the line items or unprogrammed funds, where the latter is the alleged proponent.
Ngu was among those recommended by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to the Office of the Ombudsman last December to be charged in relation to the multibillion-peso flood control project scandal.
Also included in the ICI referral were former senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr., former DPWH executives Gerard Opulencia, Manny Bulusan, Ruel Umali, Gene Ryan Altea, as well as individuals Carleen Yap-Villa, J. Y. Dela Rosa, Mrs. Patron, and Carlo Aguilar.
“Possible cases include direct or indirect bribery and corruption of public officials, plunder, and administrative sanctions, among others,” the ICI stated.
The ICI submitted the referral to the Ombudsman based on the testimony of Bernardo and documents obtained by the commission related to the flood control projects.
But when asked by Senator Francis Pangilinan during Monday’s Senate hearing, Ngu reiterated that Bernardo’s claims about him are all lies, adding that he has already filed a case against Bernardo for defamatory insinuations.
Former DPWH Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara also denied giving any money to Ngu and former Department of Education (DepEd) undersecretary Trygve Olaivar from the proceeds of flood control project insertions.
Alcantara testified that he only delivered money to Bernardo and had no personal involvement in distributing funds to private individuals.
“Are you telling us now na wala kayong rekta na communication kay dating (you have no direct communication with) Usec. Trygve at Mr. Ngu? Saan niyo dini-deliver ‘yung pera na para sa kanila intended (Where do you deliver the money intended for them)?” Senator Erwin Tulfo asked, to which Alcantara replied “Kay Usec. Bernardo lang po (Only Usec. Bernardo).”
“Saan galing ‘yung binibigay kay Usec para allegedly ay ibigay sa dalawa (Who is the source of the money allegedly coursed through Usec for the two)?” Tulfo asked Alcantara, who answered “sa contractor po (from the contractor).”
“Hindi ikaw mismo ang nag-aabot sa dalawa (You’re not the one delivering it to the two)?” the lawmaker further asked, to which Alcantara replied, “Hindi po (No, I’m not).”
When asked by Tulfo if he knew Ngu, Alcantara replied, “Hindi ko po kilala (I don’t know him).” He, however, admitted meeting Olaivar during a DepEd event attended by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Olaivar likewise denied Bernardo’s allegations that he also communicated with the latter for alleged project insertions for then-senator Sonny Angara and for a certain “executive secretary.”
Bernardo, in his affidavit, claimed that the DPWH later received a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) that included projects worth P2.85 million after his meetings with Olaivar.
In those meetings, Olaivar allegedly told Bernardo that there’s a 15% commitment from the unprogrammed appropriation for the Office of the Executive Secretary.
“I deny those allegations. Wala pong katotohanan (There is no truth to that). Lahat po from the communication to nag-deliver to kay ES daw po, na wala naman po akong personal [connection] kay (Everything from the communication to alleged delivery to ES, I have no personal connection with the) Executive Secretary,” Olaivar said, referring to former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.
“That time in 2024, baka ‘yun ‘yung papasok kami sa DepEd. Wala po, kahit nakakausap si Executive Secretary, hindi po. Sa deliveries po, 15 percent, wala po (that must be the time when we were about to enter DepEd. No—I don’t even talk to the Executive Secretary. As to the 15 percent deliveries, there are none),” he added.
The Senate hearing held on January 19 on the flood control issue was the first time Ngu and Olaivar came face to face with Bernardo, and was officially able to give their side on the allegations of the former DPWH Undersecretary against them.
