Villanueva: No hand in pork mess

CEBU, Philippines - Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Joel Villanueva yesterday reiterated that he has nothing to do with the pork barrel scam, calling his alleged involvement “ridiculous.”

He said he has never met provisional state witness Dennis Cunanan, who implicated him in the scam involving the loss of several billions of pesos of congressmen’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), more popularly referred to as pork barrel.

“Until now, my name is being dragged (into the controversy). Why is that so?  I’m also speculating that these are all politics, but still until now wala hong makikitang wrongdoing, wala akong kaso, and yet people like all of you right now wanted me to react because my name is being dragged,” he said during the graduation of  50 technical-vocational students at the SKILLS Training Center along Gen. Maxilom Avenue, Cebu  City.

He said he already sent a letter to the National Bureau of Investigation, Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, and the Department of Justice to investigate a transaction with a non-government organization even before Cunanan named him as one of several government officials involved in the alleged misuse of public funds.

Since time immemorial tayo ay lumalaban sa kurapsyon (I was against corruption,” he said.

“Until now walang makitang (they see no) wrongdoing (on my part). That’s the main reason why I’m still not facing any charges. It’s just that unfortunately, parang ang nangyayari po ngayon (what is happening now is that) I’m being used a sacrificial lamb just to say na may ally ang administration,” he said.

Villanueva Friday went to Daanbantayan town in northern Cebu to attend a similar activity.  (FREEMAN)