Joel Villanueva blames 'forces of darkness' behind flood control scam allegations

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Senator Joel Villanueva on Sunday recalled the emotional toll of the corruption allegations linking him to the flood control scandal, claiming that political forces had joined forces to destroy his reputation and hurt his family and religious community.

Speaking before members of the Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Worldwide Church at the Luneta grandstand in Manila, Villanueva recalled how he had to endure "severe criticism and accusations" over the past year, describing the experience as a "painful ordeal" that also affected his family and JIL.

“Yung mga mafia at forces of darkness nagkaisa para ibagsak at yurakan ang aking pagkatao,” Villanueva said, in an apparent reference to the flood control scandal.

(The mafia and forces of darkness joined forces to bring me down and trample on my dignity.)

The senator spoke at the church’s 48th anniversary celebration religious organization founded by his father, evangelist and CIBAC Party-list Representative Brother Eddie Villanueva.

Villanueva also accused political allies of turning against him, saying that in politics, people who had worked together recently could become adversaries and engage in what he described as “black operations.”

“Sa mundo nga po ng pulitika, yung kasama mo kamakailan, sila pa yung gumagawa ng mga black operations against you,” he said.

(Indeed, in politics, those who were with you just recently may be the very same people who would carry out black operations against you.)

Villanueva did not identify who he accused of orchestrating the alleged smear campaign.

He said the allegations became particularly painful when his family and the JIL Church were dragged into the controversy.

“Ang masakit ho sa lahat, pagka ho binabanggit yung pamilya mo; ang pinakamasakit sa lahat, pagka binabanggit yung JIL Church,” he said.

(What hurts the most is when your family is dragged into it; what hurts even more is when the JIL Church is dragged into it.)

The senator, however, urged his audience to draw strength from their faith rather than seek public approval, citing the importance of finding peace and joy in God amid personal and political difficulties.

“The joy of the Lord is our strength,” he added.

Villanueva's remarks came amid investigations into alleged corruption in government flood control projects, in which former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials implicated him in alleged budget insertions and kickbacks.

Former Bulacan first district assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez accused Villanueva, who hails from Bocaue town, of benefiting from anomalous flood control projects in the province.

Former Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara also linked the senator to alleged kickbacks, claiming that around P150 million was delivered to Villanueva through an aide identified as “Peng.”

Villanueva has denied the allegations.

In September 2025, then Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Panfilo Lacson said documents showed P600 million in proposed flood control projects in Bulacan under the 2023 General Appropriations Act that had been linked to Villanueva by Hernandez.

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure subsequently recommended that criminal charges be filed against Villanueva and other individuals over suspected irregularities in flood control projects.

The commission clarified, however, that its interim report was not a categorical finding of guilt, leaving the determination of criminal liability to the proper authorities.

The Department of Justice later investigated complaints against Villanueva involving alleged ghost flood control projects and the purported receipt of kickbacks.

Villanueva has characterized the allegations as a demolition job and maintained that he has nothing to hide.— GMA News

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