Ombudsman labels engineer recantation reports a spin by Villanueva's lawyer

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday that reports of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Bulacan engineers recanting their testimonies in connection with the anomalous flood control projects and their kickback scheme are being peddled by the camp of Senator Joel Villanueva.

Remulla was referring to prior reports of recantation of axed DPWH Bulacan engineers Henry Alcanata, Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza in exchange for getting a good deal after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration ends on June 30, 2028.

“The guy spinning it is the lawyer of [Senator] Joel Villanueva. ‘Yan ang nag-iispin ‘nun, si Mon Esguerra,” he said in a press conference.

(That is the guy spinning it, Mon Esguerra.)

“Walang ganun [na recantation]. Iniisipin nga ‘yan ni Mon Esguerra, lawyer ni Joel Villanueva. Siyempre, trying to get a good deal for Joel siguro, itong si Mon Esguerra,” Remulla added.

(There is no such recantation. It is really a spin of Mon Esguerra, the lawyer of Senator Villanueva. Maybe he is trying to get a good deal for his client,)

Remulla, however, conceded that not every accused in a case can be admitted as a state witness.

“Ano, lahat state witness? Eh di wala na tayong ikukulong. Wala na tayong pananagutin?,” Remulla said.

(Everybody will be a state witness? If that happens, we won’t be able to send anyone to jail and we won’t be able to hold anyone accountable.)

“Hindi ganun ang batas,” Remulla added.

(The law does not work that way.) 

GMA News Online has asked Villanueva for a comment and will update the story once it is available. 

Alcantara earlier denied that he is recanting his statements on the anomalous flood control projects and the kickback scheme behind them. In less than 24 hours since he issued the said statement, the Justice department announced that Alcantara is one of the individuals admitted as a state witness in the flood control cases. —LDF, GMA Integrated News