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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Sen Villanueva files counter-affidavit; denies receipt of P150-M in flood control project

Sen Villanueva files counter-affidavit; denies receipt of P150-M in flood control project

Published Jan 5, 2026 04:15 pm
Senator Joel Villanueva on Monday, Jan. 5, refuted allegations that he received P150 million in the anomalous flood control projects.
In his counter-affidavit filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ), Villanueva said the charges filed against him are “ridiculous.”
“S’yempre nirerespeto natin ‘yung legal process (Of course we respect the legal process),” Villanueva told journalists after filing his counter-affidavit.
He reminded that he has repeatedly and publicly expressed his opposition against flood control projects that also led to disagreements with former Ako Bicol Party-List congressman Elizaldy Co who has been charged criminally before the Sandiganbayan by the Office of the Ombudsman. .
“Tapos doon sa complaint one percent pa ang ibinibigay ni Zaldy Co sa akin (But in the complaint I am accused of receiving one percent of the kickbacks from Zaldy Co),” he pointed out.
Lawyer Ramon Esguerra, the legal counsel of Villanueva, said the case has 29 respondents and accuses the senator of having violated Republic Act (RA) 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Esguerra said “the crux of the case they filed against Senator Villanueva is the alleged delivery of about P150 million to his aide….”
Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan district engineer Henry C. Alcantara had alleged that the money was delivered to the alleged aide of Villanueva named “Peng” in 2023.
“We produced Peng here who denied meeting Engineer Alcantara on the date and the time Alcantara mentioned when he supposedly delivered the P150 million,” Esguerra said.
“How possible is it for one man, the person of district engineer Alcantara, to carry P150 million in cash and bring it to that particular place that he identified as a rest house?” Esguerra asked as he pointed out that this is “illogical and contrary to the natural order of things that happened here.”
Esguerra noted that the charge filed against Villanueva cited the sworn statements made by Alcantara and former DPWH assistant district engineers Brice Ericson D. Hernandez and Jaypee D. Mendoza.
However, he claimed that there are “conflicting testimonies or sworn statements given by DPWH witnesses….”
“Undersecretary Bernardo (former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo), in one of his statements given to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, denied Alcantara’s allegation that he was part of the entire scheme in giving the senator the P150 million,” Esguerra stressed.
He added that “the senator, on record, requested funding for a multi-purpose building, not for flood control.”
“Naniniwala ako (I believe) in the end justice will prevail here,” he also said.
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