Villanueva, Jinggoy, Revilla, Co deny receiving flood control kickbacks

Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, former senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., and Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co on Tuesday denied the accusations of dismissed Bulacan 1st district engineer Henry Alcantara that they received kickbacks off flood control projects.

During the plenary session at the Senate, Villanueva reiterated that he is prepared to be investigated following Alcantara's testimony, stressing that he "has nothing to hide."

"Mister President, ano po ito? Masabi lang ang pangalan natin at idadawit sa flood control issue, kahit ang mismong testigo na ang nagsabi na wala akong alam? Mema lang? May masabi," Villanueva said.

(Mister President, what is this? They just mentioned my name and implicated me in the flood control issue, even if the witness himself said that I don't know anything. Is this just for the sake of saying something?)

"I am ready, Mr. President, and my office is ready, to be investigated so that the truth may come out. At katulad ng pagdalo ko kanina sa ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure), nakahanda rin po ako na bigyang linaw ang mga bagay na ito sa anumang forum o lugar at patunayan na mali, malisyoso, at pawang kasinungalingan lamang ang mga pinupukol sa aking pangalan," he added.

(I am ready, Mr. President, and my office is ready, to be investigated so that the truth may come out. Similar to my visit to the ICI earlier, I'm ready to shed light to these issues in any forum or place and prove that the allegations against me are false, malicious, and are mere lies.)

PDAF scam

Estrada, meanwhile, had a heated exchange with Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan while the former defended himself in the plenary.

"His comments, while not naming us directly, were laced with insinuations—clearly aimed at me and former Senator Bong Revilla, and the legal ordeals I have already faced. With due respect, such statements are not only unfair, they are malicious, and utterly uncalled for," Estrada said.

He was reacting to a statement of Pangilinan during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing earlier in the day regarding the multi-billion peso pork barrel scam.

"Mister President, the courts have spoken with finality. To cast doubt on these decisions is not only an insult to me personally but a dangerous affront to the judiciary. It undermines the very foundation of our justice system and erodes public trust in due process," Estrada said.

"Ginoong Pangulo, hindi ako tutol sa isinasagawang pagdinig ng blue ribbon committee. Ngunit hindi ko pahihintulutan na ang kasalukuyang issue ay gamiting upang idikit muli sa akin ang mga maling paratang at sadyang impluwensyahan ang opinyon ng publiko," he added.

(Mister President, I am not against the ongoing hearing of the blue ribbon committee. But I will not allow the current issue to be used to make false allegations against me again and deliberately influence public opinion.)

Estrada said he is also ready to "dismantle the baseless lies" Alcantara said during the hearing "come hell or high water."

"I will not allow discredited narratives to be weaponized for political grandstanding. I will not allow my honor—hard-earned and vindicated by the courts—to be sullied by careless remarks," Estrada stressed.

Without naming anyone, Pangilinan told the blue ribbon panel that if there had been a conviction, not acquittal, in the pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam, the controversy in flood control projects would not have happened.

"Well, if i may, kung maaari ko sigurong ikomento, siguro kung 'yung Napoles cases ay nauwi doon sa halip na na abswelo ay kulong ay baka hindi na nangyari itong mas malaking kurakot," Pangilinan said, referring to the alleged misuse of PDAF funds facilitated by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles.

(Well, if I may comment, perhaps if there was a conviction instead of acquittal in the Napoles cases, perhaps this larger-scale corruption would not have happened.)

Nothing personal

Pangilinan, in response to Estrada's remarks, asked for understanding, saying he had no intention of maligning any senator during the hearing.

"Walang personalan. Gaya ng nabanggit ng butihing senador, wala tayong pinangalanan. Humihingi tayo ng unawa," Pangilinan said, explaining the context of his manifestation.

(It was nothing personal. As the good senator mentioned, we did not name anyone. We ask for your understanding.)

However, Estrada said it was "obvious" that he was the one alluded to by Pangilinan.

"Remember, Senator Pangilinan, that I was acquitted by the court. Are you questioning the decision of the court acquitting this representation? You're a lawyer. I'm not. You shouldn't be talking that way, you're undermining the judicial process in our country, you being a member of the bar," Estrada answered back.

The session was suspended for a few minutes after tensions flared in the plenary hall.

Bong Revilla, Zaldy Co

Meanwhile, Revilla also denied the accusation of Alcantara.

"I deny. Wala po akong kinalaman diyan (I have nothing to do with it). I have nothing to do with any of that," the former senator told members of the media.

Co, likewise, refuted the allegations.

"The allegations made against me during today's Senate hearing are false and baseless. I reserve my right to respond to these allegations at the proper time before the proper forum," the congressman said.

Alcantara said he had worked with Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo for the supposed commissions of the lawmakers.

He said Bernardo handed DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office P350 million worth of government projects in 2022, P710 million in 2023, and P3.3 billion in 2024.

Of the P3.3 billion in 2024, Alcantara said P2.85 billion were sourced from unprogrammed funds, or budget items which are funded if there are excess tax collections and other special laws providing for its funding. — VDV, GMA Integrated News