Senator Joel Villanueva. NESTOR CORRALES/INQUIRER.net
Pained by a serious political crisis that could wipe away his surprise second-place victory in the senatorial race, neophyte Sen. Joel Villanueva still holds his head high.
Villanueva was ordered dismissed by the Ombudsman on Monday for the alleged misuse of P10 million from the Priority Development Assistant Fund when he was a congressman in 2008.
Despite threats that his Senate stint might be cut short just six months into his six-year term, he keeps himself busy with his duties as senator.
“It really hurts, but we have to be focused,” Villanueva said on Tuesday.
“I try to be busy. I still go to all my commitments, going about my schedule,” he told the Inquirer. He had kept all his appointments earlier in the day before heading to the Senate in the afternoon.
His dismissal was referred to the Committee on Rules whose chair, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, has cited a provision in the Ombudsman Act exempting members of Congress from the Ombudsman’s disciplinary authority.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales found Villanueva guilty of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and prejudicial conduct.
The son of Jesus is Lord founder Bro. Eddie Villanueva was then a representative, ironically, of the Citizen’s Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) party list.