Villanueva insists documents linking him to new ‘pork’ scam fake

Tesda chief Joel Villanueva. NESTOR CORRALES/INQUIRER.net

Technical Education and Skills Development  Authority Secretary Joel Villanueva on Wednesday said the documents linking him to the new P500-million pork barrel scam were “fake.”

Villanueva was included on the list of 20 lawmakers exposed by lawyer Levito Baligod, who allegedly funneled their Priority Development Assistance Funds to questionable nongovernment organizations (NGOs).

In the complaint filed by Baligod, Villanueva allegedly allocated P45 million with Saro numbers ROCS-08-05175, ROCS 09-04151, DO8-07773 to Aaron Foundation, Kaagapay Magpakailanman and Infinite Community Integrated Development Support.

READ: 20 lawmakers tied to new P500M pork scam
Speaking to reporters at the House of Representatives, Villanueva said the new documents were fake and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) could attest to it.

He maintained his innocence, adding that he is ready to face the complaint filed against him.

“Buo po ang loob ko na sabihin na handang-handa po tayo na harapin ito at wala po ako kailanman (I am confident to say that I ready to face this and that I have never had any) dealings, transactions or talks with these NGOs,” he said.

This is the second time Villanueva’s name has been dragged in a pork barrel scam controversy.

On August 7, the NBI filed malversation, graft and bribery charges against Villanueva, Senator Gringo Honasan and seven other former and incumbent lawmakers as part of the third batch of pork barrel scam cases involving alleged mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

READ: Honasan, Villanueva, 7 others face raps over pork barrel scam

He said then that the timing of the charges filed against him was suspect.

READ: Villanueva questions filing of pork charges ahead of 2016 elections
Villanueva is “continuously consulting” whether to run for senator in 2016 and he hopes that the latest complaint filed against him was not politically motivated.

“Sana wala po itong kinalaman sa pulitika at sana wala rin itong kinalaman sa darating na halalan (I hope this is not because of politics and the upcoming elections),” he said. Nestor Corrales/IDL