MANILA — Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva has firmly denied any connection to former Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara, who is facing investigation over alleged irregularities in flood control projects in the province.

Villanueva acknowledged that he knows Alcantara, as they both hail from Bulacan. However, he clarified that he never funded or initiated any flood control projects. He dismissed efforts to associate him with Alcantara—such as the circulation of photos and videos showing them together—as part of a political smear campaign, arguing that these do not constitute evidence of any illegal activity, especially since Alcantara can also be seen in photos with other public officials.

“This will again be used by fake news peddlers. Ano ba ‘yung transaction? District engineer siya. Lahat ng senador, lahat ng secretary na pumunta sa Presidente ng Pilipinas, nandun, nakakasama siya,” Villanueva told reporters.

Alcantara is accused of authorizing payments for non-existent or substandard flood control projects in Bulacan, some of which were flagged by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as fraudulent or incomplete.

“Bakit ako?” – Villanueva

The senator insisted he was being unfairly singled out, pointing to photos and videos showing Alcantara with government officials at public events, arguing that such appearances do not prove any wrongdoing.

“Ang transaction is, what is transaction?… So, yun ba, is an evidence, na sangkot? Bakit si Joel lang yung tinuturo? Bibigyan ko kayo lahat ng picture nilang lahat. Bibigyan ko kayo lahat ng video nilang lahat. So, bakit? Bakit ako? Bakit ako? Kasi nagpapagulo sila. Gusto nilang guluhin,” he said.

Villanueva said he is prepared to release evidence showing Alcantara’s presence at official activities with other national figures.

“Isa-isahin natin lahat ng video. Isa-isahin niyo po yung reports ninyo the past three years about flood control. Isa-isahin po natin. Bakit sa akin tinuturo? Hindi ba napakaklaro dahil tatamaan na sila ngayon?” he added.

Wawao, St. Timothy as “Dummy Companies”

When asked about two construction firms—Wawao Builders, owned by Mark Allan Arevalo, and St. Timothy Construction, owned by Maria Roma Rimando—Villanueva suggested they appeared to be shell entities.

“Well, it looks like they are dummy companies, no?… Klaro yan eh. Even Secretary [Manuel] Bonoan made mention na totoo na nagpapahiram, nabebenta… ang bilis nakakagawa ng kumpanya at nakakapasok. Wala talagang mekanismo,” he said.

He also cited the Discaya family of Alpha & Omega General Contractor, who he said had expressed willingness to reveal details about their alleged “license-for-rent” practices.

Villanueva expressed deep frustration with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) personnel in Bulacan, saying millions—if not billions—of pesos had been wasted on ghost projects while residents continued to endure severe flooding.

“I was surprised and as I have said, and I will continue to say it, dapat na silang kasuhan,” he said.

📷 Joel Villanueva FB