‘Sen. Joel Villanueva should probably earn a best actor award for trying to portray himself as a crusader of some sort, denouncing the flood control projects in Bulacan.’
PEOPLE are wondering where the unconscionable sense of criminal and civil impunity comes from that has been embraced by plundering congressmen and officials of the DPWH. They are convinced they can evade criminal accountability and are aware of exceptional ways to defend against any charges.
One of the prime examples was the unraveling anew of the criminal justice system that absolved several senators convicted in the pork barrel scam masterminded by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.
PGMA in the “Hello, Garci” massive electoral fraud, in the PCSO plunder and the China-ZTE broadband deal cases, also left a formidable mark of impunity that stunned the rest of the country and advanced the political and unabated culture of greed and corruption.
Alleged pay-offs to congressmen for the filing of impeachment raps against then Chief Justice Renato Corona helped expand a political climate of treachery, bribery and impunity that is resonating until today.
The Congressional Press Corps was established in the House of Representatives under then House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte. It was labeled as one of the most notorious media associations in the government, with newspaper and broadcast news reporters known to regularly solicit money from congressmen in exchange for interviews, as well as for news releases of favorable stories on socio-political issues and project accomplishments.
Two scandalous incidents finally drove an incensed Belmonte to abolish the House Press Corps, and only allowed the news media coverage teams to use the press room, along with the computers.
Sen. Joel Villanueva should probably earn a best actor award for trying to portray himself as a crusader of some sort, denouncing the flood control projects in Bulacan. In his privilege speech, he accused DPWH officials and public works contractors of raping his own province with flood control scams. Words such as “nakakakilabot, nakakakulo ng dugo, nakakarimarim” seemed to complement his sense of theatrics.
Many are saying that Villanueva is taking us for fools by coming across as a disgruntled legislator unaware of the scandalous flood control scams in Bulacan, where he was a congressman for many years. He and his family belong to the Jesus is Lord (JIL) Christian Ministries, which has been one of the largest Born-Again churches in the country. It was founded by his father, Brother Eddie Villanueva, who still sits in Congress as CIBAC Party-List Representative.
From retired journalist Chelo Banal-Formoso: “Let’s say the Discaya piece was not a paid placement. They claim that this was a lifestyle feature. Ok, good. But the second they saw that huge garage that houses many super expensive cars, that lifestyle story should have instantly turned into an investigative story. Right there and then, they were being fed clues of wrongdoing. They didn’t smell the rotten deals? What happened to their journalistic instinct?”
From William Garrido: “The Discayas are just about the most unpopular couple today, Vico among the most popular. To see Korina defending her interview of the couple that Vico condemned, with a vast majority of the public agreeing, will not help her image or that of her network. There is a grain of truth to Vico’s claim and that is enough to credit him with the defense of ‘good intention and justifiable motives’.
“The interview was conducted after Sarah Discaya filed her certificate of candidacy for mayor of Pasig in November 2024 and its flattering tone could only be considered as a political advertisement for which they must have paid a fortune. The purpose of a libel suit is to restore one’s honor. How would that help Korina if her suit was followed by a public backlash that is bound to happen, as sure as water breaches a dike built by St. Timothy? She might end up the worst villain!
“Her interview of the Discayas might seem innocent or well-intentioned at the time it aired last year but now it seems like the edification of unscrupulous businessmen whose flood control projects, built at taxpayers’ expense, easily raptured funneling floodwaters to communities while the Discayas grew even richer, flaunting their luxury cars and opulent home. How can Korina stomach this couple?”
