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Sen. Joel Villanueva says the complaints filed against him in connection with allegedly anomalous flood control projects are “ridiculous.” Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Villanueva submits counter-affidavit on 'ridiculous' flood control cases

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767597220227joel.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sen. Joel Villanueva says the complaints filed against him in connection with allegedly anomalous flood control projects are “ridiculous.” <em>Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — Sen. Joel Villanueva on Monday filed his counter-affidavit to the complaints filed against him by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at the Department of Justice in connection with allegedly anomalous flood control projects.</div><p>Villanueva said he respects the preliminary investigation of the DOJ but called the NBI complaints &quot;ridiculous.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Nandito tayo para ipakita ang commitment natin sa due process, sa legal process, kaya tayo nandito despite the fact na iyong paniniwala natin remains the same na ridiculous talaga iyong complaint, pero siyempre nirerespeto natin iyong legal process, and again iyong due process,&quot; Villanueva said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/19/villanueva-lashes-out-at-critics-amid-flood-control-scandal-0042">READ: Villanueva lashes out at critics amid flood control scandal</a></div><p>Villanueva also emphasized that he has been consistent in denouncing corruption in government.  </p><p>&quot;Kinamumuhian natin for so many years, iyong away namin ni Zaldy Co tapos doon sa complaint 1 percent daw binibigay ni Zaldy Co sa akin, that’s ridiculous,&quot; Vilalnueva said.</p><p>According to Villanueva’s counsel Ramon Esguerra, the senator is facing a complaint for violation of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.</p><p>Esguerra said that along with Villanueva’s counter-affidavit, they also submitted the testimonies of three witnesses, including &quot;Peng&quot;, the staff who allegedly received money from former Department of Public Works and Highways district engineer Henry Alcantara.</p><p>The two other witnesses are Villanueva’s chief of staff as well the caretaker of the supposed rest house.</p><p>&quot;Matatawa ka doon sa mga, those who corroborated the testimony of Alcantara, iyong Mendoza saka who is the other one, Brice, they were, eto hearsay, they were told by Alcantara that he delivered the money, ang pagkakasabi he delivered the money personally to the senator pero ang statement sa affidavit he delivered it to a certain Peng,&quot; Esguerra said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/9/ex-dpwh-engineer-tags-estrada-villanueva-in-alleged-flood-control-anomalies-1055">READ: Ex-DPWH engineer tags Estrada, Villanueva in flood control anomalies; senators deny allegations</a></div><p>Esguerra also countered the testimony of another former DPWH official, Jaypee Mendoza.</p><p>&quot;At sabi ni Mendoza, dahil nainip siya, at gabi na, bumili siya, may app yata... order siya ng pagkain, isa sa sinubmit niyang ebidensya iyong resibo ng Food Panda, sinabi niya ah ginabi sila, iyong resibo ng Food Panda na sinubmit niya, alas dose ng tanghali, iyon pa lang wala na,&quot; Esguerra said.</p><p>In a statement, DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez said the separate preliminary investigations attended by Villanueva and former senator Bong Revilla involve DPWH projects in Bulacan.</p><p>&quot;The scheduled hearings for preliminary investigation today pertain to cases involving either WAWAO Builders or Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc. for projects in Bulacan 1st DEO (District Engineering Office) reported as &#x27;100 percent completed&#x27; but were either grossly deficient or completely non-existent,&quot; Martinez said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/18/lacson-alleged-estrada-insertions-seen-in-2025-budget-none-for-villanueva-1347">READ: Lacson: Alleged Estrada insertions seen in 2025 GAA; Villanueva&#x27;s in 2023 unprogrammed funds</a></div><p>The complaints are different from the five initial flood control cases which have already been transmitted to the Office of the Ombudsman.</p><p>Martinez also said that aside from the cases of Revilla and Villanueva, the DOJ panel of prosecutors also conducted preliminary investigation on a plunder complaint filed by the NBI against former speaker Zaldy Co. </p><p>Co however did not appear nor a lawyer representing him before the DOJ panel.</p><p>&quot;Wala po, no counsel appeared for Elizaldy Co, in particular, but then that does not mean that the proceedings will be suspended just because he did not, we are working within a timeline here,&quot; Martinez said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CTz8aDj5HNQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Sen. Joel Villanueva said he respects the preliminary investigation of the DOJ but called the NBI complaints “ridiculous.”</p>

Sen. Joel Villanueva said he respects the preliminary investigation of the DOJ but called the NBI complaints “ridiculous.”