Beleaguered Senator Joel Villanueva filed a counter-affidavit denying allegations linking him to ghost flood control projects, according to the Department of Justice (DoJ).

DoJ spokesperson Polo Martinez confirmed the filing in a message to reporters over the weekend, saying the senator submitted his counter-affidavit ahead of the scheduled preliminary investigation on Monday.

“He filed his counter-affidavit ahead of the preliminary investigation this Monday,” Martinez said.

Villanueva personally appeared before the DoJ to submit the document but declined to speak with reporters.

Earlier this month, Villanueva’s legal counsel also filed a counter-affidavit for a separate graft complaint involving the alleged delivery of about P150 million in kickbacks from a flood control project.

Wawao deal

The senator was originally given until 26 January to submit his counter-affidavit.

Villanueva has been named as a respondent in malversation complaints involving construction firms Wawao Builders and Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.