Fr. Flavie’s camp denies, condemns ‘ex- Marines’ cash delivery testimony

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of drug war critic Fr. Flaviano “Flavie” Villanueva has denied the accusations of the alleged 18 former Marines that he received money from former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, and that legal action has already been taken.

“We categorically deny these allegations. They are false,” Arnold Janssen Foundation Inc., a foundation established by Villanueva, said in a statement. 

READ: ‘Ex-marines’ repeat kickback claims; Sotto, Tulfo named

The foundation pointed out that the supposed delivery of the money near a church in Mindanao Avenue “collapses on its facts,” since “no specific church was identified, and no SVD [Society of the Divine World] parish, church, or ministry center exists along Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City that matches the witness’ description.”

In the Thursday hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee pushed by the bloc of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, alleged former marine Joely Cadiao claimed that he delivered money in an envelope to Villanueva near a church in Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City.

As it condemned the accusations made during the probe, the foundation said that no reputation should be put on trial upon the basis of allegations “that cannot withstand the most basic scrutiny.”

“These allegations are not merely false. They are malicious, defamatory, and a grave injustice against a priest who has devoted his life to serving the poor, accompanying EJK [extrajudicial killings] victims and their families, and defending the dignity of those whose voices are often unheard,” it said.

READ: 2 House prosecutors question inaccuracies in ‘18 Marines’ testimony

The foundation asserted that it will not allow the accusations to tarnish the decades of faithful ministry of Villanueva. 

“Legal action has already been initiated. We intend to hold accountable those who have chosen to bear false witness,” it said.

Aside from Villanueva, the alleged former Marines also claimed to have delivered money to several current and former public officials, including Senators Erwin Tulfo and Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, former lawmakers Raoul Manuel, France Castro, and Arlene Brosas, and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV. 

The incumbent and former lawmakers have also denied the allegations. /gsg