Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada once again denied their alleged involvement in the anomalous flood control projects across the country after the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) recommended filing charges against them.

In a statement, Villanueva said his lawyers would wait for a copy of the ICI’s official referral to the Office of the Ombudsman and study the basis of his inclusion before filing his response.

He reiterated his innocence, saying, “[R]ecords of the Senate will show that I have been against flood control projects from the very beginning.”

“I was the one who exposed and questioned these flood control projects that have not been implemented,” Villanueva added.

“[Former Department of Public Works and Highways–Bulacan District Engineer] Henry Alcantara also consistently testified that I know nothing about the flood control projects. All these, at the proper time, will prove my innocence,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Estrada also maintained that he had not received any funds earmarked for flood control projects and stressed that he could prove this in court.

He added that the allegations against him “are all hearsay.”

“I am ready to defend myself and go through any legal process to prove that I am telling the truth and remaining true to my duty as a public servant,” Estrada said in Filipino.

“I will clear my name, and I have full confidence that, in due course, the truth will prevail,” he added.

Estrada said the ICI recommendation does not weaken his resolve to prove that he has done nothing wrong and that he welcomes every opportunity to clear his name before the proper forum.

On Wednesday, 29 October, the ICI recommended the filing of charges against Estrada, Villanueva, resigned Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Lipana, and former Caloocan 2nd District Rep. Mitch Cajayon-Uy over their alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects across the country.

The six were included in the ICI’s referral following affidavits and corroborating evidence provided by former DPWH-Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara and former DPWH-Bulacan Assistant District Engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza.

ICI Chairperson Andres Reyes Jr., in a news conference, reported that witnesses who came forward to the commission revealed that funds for flood control programs were allegedly inserted during the crafting of the National Expenditure Program or during bicameral conference committee meetings.

Reyes further stated that the proponents received payoffs ranging from 20 to 30 percent of the projects’ value.