Villanueva refutes links to flood control projects

Senator Joel Villanueva on Tuesday dismissed the allegation of former Bulacan 1st district assistant engineer Brice Hernandez that he was involved in the anomalous flood control projects as a “demolition job.” 

In his privilege speech, Villanueva said that he was surprised that his name was mentioned during the hearing of the House of Representatives into the questionable flood control projects, along with Senator Jinggoy Estrada. 

“Uulitin ko, at parang sirang plaka na ako, Mr. President, wala akong kailanman naging flood control project. Hindi ko po sasabihin na I categorically deny this accusation dahil po may resibo po tayo. Meron pong pwede ipa-berika kung bakit ito nangyayari,” Villanueva said. 

(I’ll repeat, Mr. President, I have never been involved in any flood control project. I will not say that I categorically deny this accusation because I have receipts to show. There's information that can be verified as to why this is happening.) 

Estrada had also denied the allegation, saying that he will file a case against Hernandez. 

'Mastermind'

Villanueva also hinted that Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, former chairperson of the House appropriations committee, was the “mastermind” behind the anomaly.

“Mr. President, hinahanap pa ba natin ang mastermind? Dito rin po sa bulwagan na ito unang nasabi ‘yung binabanggit kahapon ni Senate President Escudero—a name that cannot be mentioned. Walang iba kundi si Dracula na ginawang tagapagbantay ng Kamara doon po sa national blood bank natin,” the senator said.

(Mr. President, are we still looking for the mastermind? It was also in this hall when Senate President Escudero said yesterday—a name that cannot be mentioned. It was none other than Dracula who was previously made by the House as the guardian of our national blood bank.) 

“Ngayon, Mr. President, nasaan po si Dracula? Bumaba daw po ang dugo. Bakit? Kulang na ba ang supply ng dugo kaya sa iba humahanap ng dugo si Dracula?”

(Now, Mr. President, where is Dracula? Is the blood supply running low so Dracula is now looking for blood from others?) 

Villanueva further stressed that he is not afraid of the "demolition job" against him.

He said he is also willing to face any investigation into the flood control mess because he has “nothing to hide.” 

“I’m not trying, Mr. President, na just to defend myself and hit this pawn kasi alam naman natin sino ang may hawak dito. Kaya ang hiling ko po sa bulwagang ito, ang hiling ko rin sa ating Pangulo. Alam ko na sinsero kayo, alam ko po na masakit po sa inyo itong nangyayari, pero klarong-klaro po kung sino ang mastermind,” Villanueva said.

(I'm not trying, Mr. President, to just defend myself and hit this pawn because we know who is behind this. So I’m requesting President Marcos, I know that you are sincere with this, I know that this is painful for you, but it is very clear who the mastermind is.) 

“Klarong-klaro po kung nasaan na si Dracula, kung bakit bumaba ang kanyang dugo kasi hindi na po malaman kung saan itatago ang bilyun-bilyon o trilyon trilyong salapi kaya bumaba po ang dugo. At mismong si Dracula sinasabing hindi naman niya gagawin ito kung walang basbas ng amo nya. Sino ba ang amo nya, Mr. President? Sino ba ang naglagay sa kanya bilang tagapagbantay ng national budget?”

(It's very clear where Dracula is, why his blood pressure went down because he doesn’t know where to hide billions or trillions of money. And Dracula himself said that he would not do this without the blessing of his master. Who is his boss, Mr. President? Who put him in charge of the national budget?)

During the 19th Congress, Co served as chairperson of the House appropriations committee under current Speaker Martin Romualdez, cousin of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. 

House spokesperson Princess Abante said last week that Co was in the United States for medical treatment. —AOL/VBL, GMA Integrated News