Religious congregation mulls legal action over false flood control kickback claim vs. priest

Legal action has been initiated by a religious congregation following the false claims raised against one of its members to anomalous flood control projects, CBCP News reported.

The Society of Divine Word (SVD) community issued a statement denying the allegations raised against Fr. Flaviano Antonio Villanueva, a Ramon Magsaysay awardee for his work with the families of extra-judicial killings (EJK) victims.

“We categorically deny these allegations. They are false,” the congregation said. “Legal action has already been initiated. We intend to hold accountable those who have chosen to bear false witness.”

It can be recalled that, one of the 18 alleged ex-Marines told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that he allegedly delivered money to Villanueva in person at a church along Mindanao Avenue.

“Si Father Flavie ay hinatiran ko ng pera doon sa Mindanao Ave. Isang sobre ‘yun, sir,” the witness claimed. “... Sa mismong simbahan niya, sir, sa gilid ng kalsada.”

(I delivered money to Father Flavie on Mindanao Avenue. It was inside an envelope… It was at his parish, on the side of the road.)

The Arnold Janssen Kalinga Foundation, a non-profit organization, on Thursday denied the allegations made by alleged ex-members of the Philippine Marines in the Senate’s flood control probe that the group’s founder, Fr. Flaviano Villanueva received money from ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co.

The congregation said that there is no church that fits the description of the witness and that no SVD parish, church or ministry center is located in the area.

In a separate post, Diocese of Cubao posted a similar statement.

"As conversations unfold and information continues to be shared, everyone is encouraged to uphold accuracy, responsibility, and charity. To set the record straight, there is no parish or church entrusted to the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) along Mindanao Avenue," the diocese said.

The parishes under the care of the SVD that are also within the jurisdiction of the diocese are:

Sacred Heart Parish Shrine - Kamuning, Quezon City

Sto. Niño de Violago Quasi-Parish - E. Rodriguez, Quezon City

Diocesan Shrine of Jesus the Divine Word - E- Rodriguez, Quezon City

“Disinformation is the work of the devil, the father of lies,” said Cubao Bishop Elias Ayuban Jr.

The prelate also called on the public to "seek the truth and reject falsehood and misleading claims."

“Let us then be vigilant in seeking and speaking the truth, for falsehood is never from God,” Ayuban said. “Let us work together to combat disinformation and uphold the truth with charity and responsibility.” — BAP, GMA News