Bro. Eddie Villanueva defends son Sen. Joel amid flood control mess

Evangelist Brother Eddie Villanueva on Saturday defended his son, Senator Joel Villanueva, against links to flood control project anomalies.

During the 47th anniversary celebration of the Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide at Luneta Park, the elder Villanueva said some people who call themselves Christians, pastors, bishops, and businessmen believed the claims of an alleged “planted witness.”

These planted witnesses are the Department of Public Works and Highways’ engineers, who linked his son with the flood control projects, said Bro. Eddie, who is also party-list representative of the Citizens Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC).

“May lesson po rito. When you are in crisis, when you are being falsely accused, you do not need to struggle to explain yourself to your enemies,” he said, recalling his conversation with his son.

(The lesson here is that when you’re in a crisis or being falsely accused, you don’t need to struggle to explain yourself to your enemies.)

"Also, you do not need to struggle to explain yourself to your friends [b]ecause your genuine friends do not need your explanation. Because they know you. They care for you," he added.  

Former Bulacan 1st district assistant engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez earlier claimed that some senators, including the younger Villanueva, are involved in alleged anomalous flood control projects.

The senator had refuted Hernandez’s allegations as a “demolition job.”

Setup

In the same event, Joel called the allegations against him a “setup,” as he reiterated that he has no connections with the anomalous flood control projects.

“Hindi po ba ito set up, mga magulang at kapatid? Sa mga kinaaway at nilaban natin sa mga nakaraang panahon, lalo na sa sindikato ng flood control. Meron kayang nagagalit at pilit ginugulo ang storya, ang totoong pangyayari para siguruhin na isetup si Joel Vinalueva?” Joel said during his speech.

(Is this not a setup created by our enemies from the past issues, especially the flood control syndicate. Could it be that someone is angry and intentionally twisting the truth to set up Joel Villanueva?)

“Imaginin mo, ikaw ang unang bumanat, ikaw ang unang nag-expose ng kalokohan tapos ngayon ikaw ang tinuturo na ikaw na daw ang mastermind? Absurd,” he added.

(Imagine, you were the one who made an effort, the first to expose, and now, they’re pointing at you, saying you’re the mastermind? Absurd.)

The senator once again said he has nothing to do with the anomalous flood control projects.

“Kaya ko pong tignan ang bawat isa sa inyo dito, mga kapwa ko JIL, mata sa mata, wala tayong flood control. Hindi tayo sangkot sa katiwalihan,” Joel said.

(I can look each one of you in the eye, my fellow JIL members, and say I have no involvement in flood control projects. I am not part of any corruption.)

“Hindi kayang bilhin ng salapit ang ating prinsipyo na paglingkuran ng Diyos at ang ating bayan! May esibo po tayo dyan,” he added.

(Money can't buy my principle to serve God and our country. I have proof.)

The senator had shown how to fabricate photos and alter metadata, after DPWH Bulacan 1st District Assistant Engineer JP Mendoza claimed that the senator had a conversation with dismissed DPWH district engineer Henry Alcantara in connection with the flood control projects.—LDF, GMA Integrated News