Villanueva, Estrada maintain innocence on flood control scandal

Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday said they are ready to prove that they had no hand in the anomalies regarding flood control projects, following the recommendation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to the Ombudsman to file plunder, bribery, and corruption complaints against them.

In a Viber message to reporters, Villanueva said his lawyers will study the basis of his inclusion in the ICI’s referral and will await the action of the Office of the Ombudsman before they file an answer.

“Nevertheless, records of the Senate will show that I have been against flood control projects from the very beginning. I was the one who exposed and questioned these flood control projects that have not been implemented,” he said.

“All these, at the proper time, will prove my innocence,” he added.

Estrada, on the other hand, insisted that he did not pocket any money off flood control projects.

“Wala akong tinanggap na anumang pondong nakalaan para sa mga flood control projects, at kaya kong patunayan ito sa hukuman. Ang mga paratang laban sa akin ay pawang hearsay o batay lamang sa sabi-sabi,” Estrada said in a separate statement.

(I did not accept any funds allocated for flood control projects, and I can prove this in court. The allegations against me are all based on hearsay.)

“Lilinisin ko ang aking pangalan, at buo ang aking tiwala na sa tamang panahon, mananaig ang katotohanan,” he continued.

(I will clear my name, and I have full confidence that in due time, the truth will prevail.)

Estrada further said that the ICI’s recommendation does not weaken his resolve to prove that he has “done nothing wrong.”

Aside from the two senators, the Palace-created ICI also recommended the filing of complaints against former representatives Zaldy Co and Mitch Cajayon, Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Lipana, and former Public Works and Highways undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.

"Based on testimony and narration of witnesses the scheme starts from the proponent, who is either a member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives, who will inform Engineer (Henry) Alcantara that he or she has a budget allocated for infrastructure project," ICI Chairman Andres Reyes Jr. said at a press conference.

"Additionally, the scheme shall always involve flood control projects because the kickback is 25% to 30%, higher than the kickback for other projects which is only at 10%," he added.

It was former Bulacan 1st district assistant engineer Brice Hernandez who first alleged that Villanueva and Estrada received at least 30% in kickbacks from nearly P1 billion worth of flood control projects in the Bulacan province.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/958500/senators-flood-control-project-anomalies-brice-hernandez/story/

Dismissed Bulacan 1st district engineer Henry Alcantara also admitted that he worked with Bernardo in giving commissions off flood control projects to the the camps of Villanueva, Estrada, as well as Co, Cajayon, and former senator Bong Revilla, Jr. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News