Villanueva on alleged links to Alcantara: Why only me?

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on Wednesday denied that he had any transaction with former Bulacan 1st district engineer Henry Alcantara, one of the people being linked to anomalous flood control projects in the province. 

This, as Villanueva maintained that photos and videos circulating online of him and Alcantara are not evidence of any illegal transactions. He also added that there are also photos of Alcantara with other politicians. 

“This will again be used by fake news peddlers. Ano ba ‘yung transaction? District engineer siya. Lahat ng senador, lahat ng secretary na pumunta sa Presidente ng Pilipinas, nandun, nakakasama siya," Villanueva said.

 (This will again be used by fake news peddlers. What is this transaction? Alcantara is a district engineer. All the senators and secretaries who went to the President were there.)

"So, ‘yun ba, is an evidence, nasangkot? Bakit si Joel lang ‘yung tinuturo? Bibigyan ko kayo lahat ng picture nilang lahat. Bibigyan ko kayo lahat ng video nilang lahat. So, bakit? Bakit ako?” Vaillanueva asked. 

(So is that evidence to say that I’m involved? Why are they pointing fingers at me? I will give you photos and videos of all of them. Why me?)

Villanueva made the explanation amid the circulating photos and videos of him with Alcantara.

The senator also said he is “extremely disappointed” with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) employees who are also based in Bulacan amid the investigations that there are millions, if not billions, worth of ghost flood control projects in the province. 

“I was surprised and as I have said, and I will continue to say it, dapat na silang kasuhan (they should be charged),” he added. 

During the hearing on Monday, Alcantara admitted to playing in casinos along with his former assistant district engineer, Brice Hernandez. He said he used an alias and a fake ID to enter a casino.

He also admitted issuing a certificate of completion on the P55 million flood control project in Baliwag, Bulacan which turned out to be a ghost project. 

Alcantara has said that he is currently on a 90-day preventive suspension “to give way for the investigation.” —VAL, GMA Integrated News