Bro. Eddie assails CA ruling on estafa case filed by Mike Arroyo cousin

MANILA, Philippines—Christian evangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva on Thursday assailed a Court of Appeals ruling which affirmed the resolution of the Department of Justice indicting him for estafa based on the complaint filed by a “cousin” of Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, husband of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Speaking through his lawyer Lorna Kapunan, Villanueva said the case filed against him by Benito Araneta, owner of Enternet Corp., in 2005 was intended to harass and stop him from criticizing then President Arroyo.

“It had no other purpose than to destroy Bro. Eddie’s good name and reputation and make him ‘cooperate’ with the previous administration,” Kapunan said in a statement.

“Every reasonable person can only conclude that the estafa case was filed against Bro. Eddie by the previous administration for being in the opposition and for his life-long advocacy for good governance,” she maintained.

Villanueva said Araneta was “a cousin and is very close to former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

Kapunan said that since Araneta was close to the “’powers that be’ at the time when the baseless criminal case was filed,” the DOJ arbitrarily approved Araneta’s complaint against Villanueva.

Villanueva, the founder and leader of the Jesus is Lord (JIL) Church, was a known critic of the former President. He ran for president in the 2004 and 2010 elections using an anti-corruption platform.

Records showed that Zoe Broadcasting Network, where Villanueva sits as president, inked an agreement with Araneta’s company in July 2001 to improve the audience reach of the television network.

According to the JIL leader, Zoe decided not to renew Enternet’s contract for its failure to comply with the provisions of the agreement and pay some P122 million in financial obligations to the TV network, now known as GMA News TV.

“The candor, honesty and good faith that Bro. Eddie brought with him in the contract was returned with un-Christian deception and greed,” Kapunan said.

This purportedly prompted Araneta to sue Villanueva for estafa and accused the religious leader of signing an agreement with Enternet despite Zoe’s supposed existing contract with VTV Corp.

But the evangelist said the case was “falsely and maliciously” filed against him, insisting that Zoe’s similar contract with VTV had been terminated before the TV station signed the deal with Enternet.

“When Zoe entered the contract with Araneta, (he) was duly and sufficiently informed of all the station’s history, including the terminated contract with VTV,” Kapunan said.

“(W)hat then could be the basis of (the) estafa (case) against Bro. Eddie? The basis lies not on the law and jurisprudence. It lies on Araneta’s very strong connections and ties with (Mike Arroyo) and the previous administration.”