Ethics complaint gets filed vs Chiz Escudero, Senator reacts

• Senator Chiz Escudero released a statement on social media after an ethics complaint was filed against him

• Escudero said he was not surprised and called it harassment and political retribution allegedly from the camp of Martin Romualdez

• The complaint was filed by Eldrige Marvin Aceron over the alleged ₱30 million donation from Lawrence Lubiano of Centerways Construction to Escudero’s 2022 campaign

• Escudero denied having any role in awarding government contracts and said Lubiano is simply his friend

Senator Chiz Escudero took to social media to issue a sharp response after an ethics complaint was filed against him. In his post, Escudero said he was not surprised by the development, claiming it was “the price” of mentioning the name of former Speaker Martin Romualdez and revealing the truth. “Ito ang kabayaran sa pagbanggit ko sa pangalan ni Martin Romualdez at sa pagbubunyag sa katotohanan. This is just part of the harassment from his minions. This isn’t about ethics. This is political retribution. This complaint is still part of their script and a desperate smokescreen. I will expose it for the politically motivated sham that it is,” Escudero wrote.

The complaint, filed on Thursday, October 2, by lawyer and publisher Eldrige Marvin Aceron, raised concerns over Escudero’s ties to a government contractor who allegedly donated ₱30 million to his 2022 senatorial campaign. It is claimed that businessman Lawrence Lubiano, president of Centerways Construction and Development Inc., was listed as a campaign donor in Escudero’s Statement of Contributions and Expenditures. Centerways was previously identified by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as among the top 15 contractors that received ₱100 billion worth of government flood control projects. Escudero explained that Lubiano is his friend but denied any involvement in influencing the awarding of government contracts.

You can read Senator Chiz Escudero’s full statement on the ethics complaint below:

Chiz Escudero is a prominent Filipino lawyer and politician. He first rose to national prominence as a congressman representing Sorsogon, earning a reputation as a sharp debater and a principled lawmaker. Later, he served as a senator, where he became known for his work on legislation related to justice, human rights, and good governance. Beyond his professional career, Chiz is also widely recognized in the public eye due to his high-profile marriage to actress and fashion icon Heart Evangelista. He and the actress tied the knot in a dreamy and grand ceremony in Balesin.

As previously reported by KAMI, Chiz Escudero questioned why Martin Romualdez's name is absent from the flood control probe lists. He called Romualdez "the name that cannot be mentioned" despite stepping down as House Speaker. He raised the issue to the Independent Commission on Infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Chiz Escudero expressed his support for Faustino 'Bojie' Dy III. On Instagram, he warmly welcomed Dy as the new House Speaker. According to Chiz, he also knows Dy personally and is confident of his experience. In his IG post, Chiz briefly talked about the importance of Dy's "steady leadership."

Source: KAMI.com.gh