Senator Joel Villanuez interpellates during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on anomalous flood control projects on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — Sen. Joel Villanueva slammed the allegations made by former Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara that he received kickbacks from flood control projects, saying he and his office are ready to be investigated to “bring out the truth.”
“I am fully prepared to be investigated in these allegations. I have nothing to hide and I welcome any inquiry that will bring out the truth,” said Villanueva in a Senate session Tuesday, Sept. 23.
This after former Department of Public Works and Highways Bulacan 1st District engineer Henry Alcantara alleged that Villanueva received a P150 million share for a P600-million multi-purpose building project in the province.
Alcantara said the money was given to Villanueva's supposed aide, "Peng."
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The engineer said the senator did not request any flood control project and was unaware that the money came from flood control allocations.
"If we carefully review what transpired this morning, it was clear from Mr. Alcantara’s own statements that hindi ako nag-request ng kahit anong flood control project. Wala akong alam, at hindi rin ako kailanman sinabihan tungkol sa mga proyektong ’yan—ang request po ay multi-purpose buildings para sa aking mga kababayan sa Bulacan, hindi flood control," he said.
Villanueva, whose allegations of involvement in the flood control mess started with an alleged text conversation with Alcantara, decried the mention of his name in the corruption issue.
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“Ano po ba ito? Masabi lang po yung pangalan natin at idadawit po tayo sa flood control issue kahit ang msimong testigo na ang nagsabi po na wala po akong alam. Mema lang?” he said.
Villanueva underscored he is ready to be questioned in any forum to “prove the allegations wrong.”
“I am ready, Mr. President, and my office is ready to be investigated that the truth may come out. At katulad po ng pagdalo ko kanina sa ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure), nakahanda rin po akong bigyang linaw ang mga bagay na ito sa anumang forum o lugar at patunayan na mali, malisyoso at pawang kasinungalingan lamang ang ipinupukol po sa ating pangalan,” he said.
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