Villanueva wants firing squad for guilty in flood control scheme

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Senator Joel Villanueva on Friday called for those proven guilty in the alleged flood control scam to face the firing squad.

During the Senate budget hearing for the Commission on Higher Education and state universities and colleges, Villanueva asked University of the Philippines Resilience Institute executive director Mahar Lagmay whether there were better ways to forecast extreme weather events.

Villanueva then expressed frustration over recurring flooding in his home province of Bulacan before turning to the alleged flood control scam, in which he had previously been linked.

“God knows, and until now, some people thought that I have a case on this. Until now wala ‘ho akong case. May complaints, etc. tinuturo na kasama ako ngayon… and I’m not scared to talk about this,” Villanueva said.

(God knows, and until now, some people thought that I have a case on this. Until now, I do not have a case. There are complaints, etc. and I am being implicated… I am not afraid to talk about this.)

“I am always for justice. Until now, gusto ko ngang i-firing squad iyong lahat ng may kaso dito na talagang mapapatunayan na parte nitong scheme na ito, itong kalokohan na ito, itong kabulastugan na nangyari dahil number one na naapektuhan yung probinsya namin sa Bulacan,” Villanueva said.

(I am always for justice, I want a firing squad for all those who have a case in this and will be proven guilty that they have a part in this scheme, this bluff because number one affected is our province of Bulacan.)

Villanueva said that the records would show that he spent years asking the Department of Public Works and Highways for an integrated flood control program.

During the height of the flood control issue in 2025, dismissed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer Henry Alcantara tagged several lawmakers in the multi-billion corruption scheme. — including Villanueva.

Alcantara claimed that he brought P150 million to a rest house in Bulacan, which was allegedly received by one of Villanueva’s staff.

No formal charges have been lodged against the Bulacan senator.

Accused alongside him were Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former senator Bong Revilla. Both of whom were indicted for charges in relation to the flood control scam. While Revilla was able to post bail, Estrada remains incarcerated at the Quezon City Jail.

The Philippines abolished the death penalty in 2006 under Republic Act No. 9346, replacing capital punishment with life imprisonment and reclusion perpetua.—LDF, GMA News