THE Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday proceeded with scheduled preliminary investigation hearings involving anomalous infrastructure projects in Bulacan.
DOJ spokesman Polo Martinez said the hearings covered cases involving Wawao Builders and Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc., which were linked to projects under the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office (DEO) that had been marked as “100 percent completed” despite serious irregularities.
Former senator Bong Revilla and Sen. Joel Villanueva are respondents in separate cases, each concerning a different project.
The charges being investigated include direct bribery, corruption of public officials, and malversation through falsification, as well as alleged violations of the Government Procurement Reform Act (Republic Act 9184) and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019).
“These are separate from the original five cases involving SYMS Construction Trading,” Martinez said, noting that all five SYMS-related cases have already been referred to the Office of the Ombudsman, with complete records transmitted for appropriate action.
Villanueva files counter affidavit
On the same day, Villanueva filed a comprehensive counter affidavit before the DOJ in response to allegations linking him to irregularities in government flood control projects.
His legal team, led by counsel Ramon Esguerra, said the filing refutes the charges entirely and is supported by sworn affidavits, official records, and other documentary evidence.
“The counter-affidavit clearly establishes that there is absolutely no proof whatsoever that Senator Villanueva received any amount of money from flood control projects or any other government project,” Esguerra said.
He added that the allegations involving engineers Henry Alcantara, Jaypee Mendoza, Brice Ericson Hernandez, or any other individual are unsubstantiated.
Esguerra emphasized that Alcantara had previously testified under oath before the House Blue Ribbon Committee that Villanueva did not request money, projects, or any percentage from flood control initiatives.
The complaint, he said, contains fatal flaws and inconsistencies, including conflicting witness affidavits and missing documentation.
A motion for production of evidence was filed to protect Villanueva’s right to due process, and the counter-affidavit was submitted ad cautelam, or as a precaution, without prejudice to supplemental filings if additional documents are produced.
In a press briefing, Esguerra also addressed claims regarding a supposed delivery of P150 million linked to Pantaleon, saying the allegation is unsubstantiated.
“The only possible source would be engineer Pantaleon himself carrying the money, but the senator never met him on the dates or locations specified,” Esguerra said.
He added that prior Senate records and statements from Bernardo contradict the allegations and confirm Villanueva’s non-involvement.
Revilla’s legal team confident
Meanwhile, the legal team of Revilla expressed confidence that corruption charges filed against him would be dismissed, describing the complaints as baseless and founded on unreliable evidence.
Esguerra, joined by lead counsel Cheska Senga, criticized the consistency and credibility of evidence, noting that Bernardo submitted five differing affidavits over the course of the proceedings.
“The complaint is based on incredible and incompetent evidence, mostly hearsay from unreliable sources,” Esguerra said.
He added that the alleged link between Revilla and flood control projects rests solely on a tabular enumeration of projects provided by the Department of Public Works and Highways, without proof of solicitation or receipt of funds.
The charges against Revilla include bribery and corruption under Articles 210 and 211 of the Revised Penal Code.
While the DOJ will ultimately determine whether to dismiss the case, the defense argued there is “no prima facie evidence which reasonably indicates a crime was committed.”
Source: Hearings on Bulacan projects beginHearings on Bulacan projects begin
