Senate Majority Leader Denies Contractor Links
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, speaking for all senators in the 20th Congress, firmly denied any connection between himself or his colleagues and the 15 contractors awarded the most flood control projects under President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. This clear denial came amid growing public scrutiny over the flood control programs.
During a press briefing on Monday, Villanueva emphasized that the president’s recent disclosure serves as a form of vindication for those tagged in the controversy. “I cannot speak for the other house, but as far as I am concerned, here in the Senate, I do not know any senator linked to any of these 15 contractors mentioned. So just do the math. It’s only one plus one,” he stated.
Efforts to Verify Contractor Affiliations
When asked about possible involvement of House of Representatives members, Villanueva said he has already requested information from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other government bodies to verify the affiliations of the contractors.
“The world of construction is only small and I think it’s very easy to check and in order not for us to have a hard time, I have asked the SEC and government authorities concerned to give me a copy. I hope I get it before the end of the day – the General Information Sheet as well as the articles of incorporation,” he revealed.
He added that reviewing these documents will help identify all individuals involved, making it easier to determine any links to the flood control contracts.
Call for Transparency in Flood Control Programs
Villanueva urged those connected to the projects to come forward and clarify the situation to ensure the public understands what truly transpired in the country’s flood control initiatives.
Senate President Rejects Allegations of Budget Insertions
Meanwhile, Senate President Chiz Escudero dismissed accusations that he inserted billions of pesos into the 2025 national budget. He described the allegations as a demolition campaign originating from the House of Representatives.
Alongside Escudero, Villanueva’s name was also mentioned in relation to the alleged scheme. However, Escudero dismissed these claims as attempts to tarnish their reputations ahead of leadership elections in the Senate.
“They first claimed that I made a P9 billion insertion for Sorsogon, then P12 billion for Bulacan. Then, P142 billion and then they changed it to P150 billion. What’s this? They first said I was alone and then, they implicated Sen. Joel Villanueva, and now it’s the entire Senate,” Escudero said.
He further questioned the focus on a supposed P150 billion amendment when the total proposed changes to the 2025 budget amounted to roughly P600 billion. “If it is true that the Senate made an amendment worth P150 billion, where is the remaining P500 billion? Where did it come from? And why are they focusing on the small amount and not the bigger one?” he asked.
For more news and updates on flood control contractors, visit Filipinokami.com.
