Drug war critic priest, ex-lawmakers deny flood control kickback claims
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 1:49 p.m.) — Catholic priest and human rights activist Fr. Flaviano Villanueva refuted the kickback allegations made by alleged former Marines during a Cayetano-led hearing in the Senate on Thursday, June 4.
The 18 alleged former Marines accused Villanueva of receiving a cash-filled envelope near a church on Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City, as well as a suitcase containing money that was allegedly delivered to him at an address identified as “33 Clemente.”
Villanueva, known as "Fr. Flavie" of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), is a vocal critic of the war on drugs under detained former President Rodrigo Duterte.
In response, the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Villanueva in 2015, released a statement on Thursday evening saying the allegations of the alleged former Marines described “acts and transactions that never occurred.”
“No specific church was identified, and no SVD parish, church, or ministry center exists along Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City that matches the witness’s description,” the statement read.
“The allegation involving the supposed delivery of a suitcase at '33 Clemente' is unsupported by any evidence and is nothing more than a fabricated accusation,” it added.
The statement called the allegations “malicious, defamatory, and a grave injustice” to Villanueva, who is known for his efforts to help the families of drug war victims.
It also condemned the “reckless” public airing of the allegations, saying the claims were “unsupported by evidence and contradicted by readily verifiable facts.”
No concrete evidence linking the priest to alleged flood control corruption was presented during the hearing.
Villanueva became known to the public in 2016 for criticizing Duterte's drug war. He was also among the complainants in a plunder complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte in December 2025.
Villanueva's camp said legal action has been initiated against the alleged former Marines.
“Truth deserves protection. And those who deliberately defame others in the guise of testimony must likewise be held accountable,” the statement said.
No SVD church
The lawyer of the alleged former Marine Levi Baligod tried to refute the statement by posting on Facebook a Google Maps screenshot of the Our Lady of the Annunciation Parish and Shrine of the Incarnation located along Mindanao Avenue.
This church, however, is not an SVD church, but a diocesan parish under the pastoral care of the Diocese of Novaliches.
The SVD is an international congregation of religious missionaries that operates without territorial boundaries, while Diocesan churches are regular territorial churches in towns and cities.
The current Bishop of Cubao, Fr. Elias Ayuban, also backed up Villanueva in a Facebook post, saying that there was indeed no church entrusted to the SVD anywhere near Mindanao Avenue.
"Within the Diocese of Cubao, the SVDs are present only in the Sacred Heart Parish-Shrine in Kamuning, the Sto. Niño de Violago Quasi-Parish, and the Divine Word Shrine along E. Rodriguez Avenue," Ayuban said.
'Desperate attacks'
Former Makabayan bloc representatives France Castro, Arlene Brosas and Raoul Manuel, who were also mentioned as recipients of alleged flood control kickbacks, denied the accusations as well, saying the claims of the alleged former Marines were merely “desperate attacks” intended to protect the Dutertes.
“The former Makabayan bloc representatives and current leaders of the people’s movement, vehemently denounce the malicious and baseless claim of the so-called 18 Marines," their joint statement read.
The alleged former Marines accused Castro, Brosas and Manuel of receiving kickback money in paper bags from fugitive lawmaker Zaldy Co after meetings with him.
“Anyone can produce a photo and make an outrageous claim, but these so-called witnesses have failed to present an iota of evidence that will hold up in any court,” the former solons said.
“Let it be known that Makabayan cannot be involved in the flood control scam because we have no infrastructure projects nominated by our offices,” they added.
The activists pointed out that the allegations surfaced as the impeachment trial against Vice President Duterte draws near and amid the ongoing proceedings involving former President Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“This is a classic, desperate diversion,” they said.
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