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Villanueva says PDAF case 'old'; files MR

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/nation/11/14/111416_jv.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Senator Joel Villanueva. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</div></figcaption></figure></div>Senator Joel Villanueva said he has already filed a motion for reconsideration before the Office of the Ombudsman after the anti-graft body ordered his dismissal on Monday.In a press statement, Villanueva insisted that his signatures on the National Agri-business Corporation (NABCOR) documents were <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/nation/05/12/16/will-joel-villanueva-stay-with-lp">forged</a> and the National Bureau of Investigation can attest to this.&quot;The NBI has already made a conclusion that the signatures on the related documents were forged. One of the documents even used a Buhay party-list letterhead, when I was representing CIBAC party-list,&quot; he said.Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on Monday ordered Villanueva&#x27;s dismissal after he and nine others were found liable for the misuse of the lawmaker’s 2008 Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/14/16/ombudsman-orders-dismissal-of-joel-villanueva">READ: Ombudsman orders dismissal of Joel Villanueva</a></li></ul>The neophyte senator however maintained that this was an &quot;old case&quot; when he was still a member of Congress. He categorically denied receiving the amount &quot;as far as [he] can remember.&quot;&quot;I already filed a motion for reconsideration before the Ombudsman, and will leave it to the Senate President to act on the Ombudsman&#x27;s order,&quot; he said.&quot;In any case, my faith is strong in the judicial system and in time, justice will be served,&quot; he added.Meanwhile, Senate President Aquilino &quot;Koko&quot; Pimentel III, who was ordered to implement the dismissal order, asserted that he wants the Ombudsman to first resolve Villanueva&#x27; motion for reconsideration but will still refer the matter to the Senate&#x27;s Rules Committee.&quot;I was informed that a motion for reconsideration was filed. Hence the Ombudsman must act on that first before I act on the Ombudsman&#x27;s comm to me,&quot; he said in a statement sent via a text message.&quot;Although I would follow the &quot;better&quot; procedure which is to refer the Ombudsman letter to the Rules Committee,&quot; he added.

Senator Joel Villanueva said he has already filed a motion for reconsideration before the Office of the Ombudsman after the anti-graft body ordered his dismissal on Monday.

Senator Joel Villanueva said he has already filed a motion for reconsideration before the Office of the Ombudsman after the anti-graft body ordered his dismissal on Monday.