Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has been removed from his position as senate president in a “coup” that sought to replace him with Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
Sotto told reporters that Escudero had agreed to step down on Monday, September 8. The shake-up will also see Sen. Jinggoy Estrada replaced by Sen. Ping Lacson as senate president pro tempore, while Sen. Migz Zubiri will take Sen. Joel Villanueva’s place as majority leader.
According to Rappler, the 15 senators who backed the leadership change are Sotto, Lacson, Zubiri, Bam Aquino, Pia Cayetano, JV Ejercito, Win Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Kiko Pangilinan, Raffy Tulfo, Erwin Tulfo, Mark Villar, and Camille Villar.
This comes amid the Senate’s probe into the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) anomalous flood control projects, which Escudero has been linked to through Centerways Construction and Development Inc., one of the 15 contractors under investigation.
Its president, Lawrence Lubiano, contributed P30 million to Escudero’s campaign for the senatorship in 2022. Escudero has denied playing a role in Lubiano’s deals with the government, but also admitted that the businessman is a friend.
The Discaya Couple Namedrops
At another Senate hearing on the ghost flood control projects, contractors Sarah and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya named several government congressmen, their staff, and DPWH officials allegedly involved in the controversy.
According to GMA News, the representatives are:
- Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo
- Uswag Ilonggo Partylist Rep. Jojo Ang
- Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas
- Quezon City Rep. Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde
- Agap Partylist Rep. Nicanor “Nikki” Briones
- Marikina Rep. Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro
- San Jose del Monte Mayor Florida Robes
- Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona
- Laguna Rep. Benjamin “Benjie” Agarao Jr.
- An-waray Partylist Rep. Florencio Gabriel Bem Noel
- Occidental Mindor Rep. Leody Tarriela
- Quezon City Rep. Reynante Arogancia
- Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo
- Aklan Rep. Teodorico Haresco
- Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Antonieta Yudela
- Caloocan City Rep. Dean Asistio
- Quezon City Rep. Marivic Co Pillar
In exchange for their testimony, the Discaya couple asked the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for protection.
According to Sarah Discaya, the DPWH’s district engineers and regional directors, as well as the chiefs-of-staff of lawmakers, offered projects allegedly funded by congressmen. The Discayas said they initially reported these to the DPWH.
“Sabi nila, dapat tanggapin namin ang reyalidad na dapat kaming magbayad sa mga mambababatas kung gusto pa naming magpatuloy na magkaroon ng projects sa gobyerno,” Discaya said.
Several solons have denied the Discayas’ allegations, including Atayde, Madrona, Teodoro, and Romulo. In a statement, House Speaker Martin Romualdez also said, “Let me be clear: wala akong kinalaman, wala akong pahintulot, at wala akong basbas sa mga ganyang gawain.”
