Solon calls out Villanueva for failure to file counter raps in 'dismissed' pork scam case

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva should have filed cases against those who supposedly forged his signature in the P10-million pork barrel scam, Lanao del Sur lawmaker Zia Adiong said.

Adiong made the comments after Villanueva, in a privilege speech, linked House appropriations panel chairperson Zaldy Co to the providers of COVID-19 supplies and the allegedly overpriced laptops of the Department of Education.

“If I were in his (Villanueva’s) shoes then...if I were really furious, I would probably file a case against those persons who forged my signature,” he said.

Adiong also said he was not aware of any information about Villanueva filing counter charges to clear his name.

Co first linked Villanueva to the pork scam, saying that the senator was ordered dismissed by the Ombudsman in November 2016 due to grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the interest of service over his alleged misuse of his discretionary P10 million pork barrel fund as a CIBAC party-list lawmaker.  

But Villanueva said that these administrative cases were already dismissed by the Ombudsman in July 2019.

As this developed, Zambales lawmaker Jeff Khonghun called on the Senate to "stop insulting" House members amid their push for economic Charter change (Cha-cha).

"They should stop belittling, insulting the House, throwing mud at our leaders. We in the House have approved 54 out of 57 LEDAC (Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council) bills. Let us just work," he said. 

"We are just protecting the integrity of the House, and we cannot stay silent and just roll with the punches. We cannot be the punching bag here," he added.

Some senators have accused the House of being behind the signature campaign for the People's Initiative for Cha-cha. The document asks voters if they are in favor of amending Article 17 Section 1 of 1987 Constitution to allow members of Congress, composed of the House and the Senate, to vote jointly on proposed amendments to the charter via constituent assembly.

Such a question, the senators said, is out to abolish the Senate. 

The House had denied having a hand in the signature drive for the People's Initiative.—LDF, GMA Integrated News