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Newest govt witness links TESDA chief Joel Villanueva to pork scam


Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) director general Joel Villanueva became the latest personality to be dragged into the pork barrel fund scam.

According to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Villanueva's name appeared on the list prepared by Dennis Cunanan, the government's newest witness in the pork barrel scam case.

The list supposedly contained the names of those who gave their pork barrel funds to bogus non-government organizations linked to alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

Villanueva, a former Citizens' Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) party-list representative in the House of Representatives, denied the accusation.

“Sana tigilan na po ang pagdawit sa akin sa kontrobersiyang ito,” Villanueva said in a text message to GMA News. “Wala po akong kinalaman dito kaya wala akong kaso hanggang ngayon.”

Villanueva also denied personally knowing Cunanan.

De Lima said apart from Villanueva, another former House member whom Cunanan linked to the scam was Ruffy Biazon, a former Muntinlupa lawmaker who resigned last year as Customs chief at the height of the controversy.

Biazon has already been named respondent in the case, while Villanueva has yet to be formally charged.

Biazon, Muntinlupa representative from 2001 to 2010 and a party-mate of President Benigno Aquino III, was among the 34 respondents in the malversation, direct bribery and graft and corrupt practices complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman. He allegedly earned a kickback of P1.95 million from the scam.

Villanueva is also an Aquino ally. — Mark Merueñas/KBK, GMA News

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