The Arnold Janssen Kalinga Foundation pushed back Thursday against testimony linking its founder to payments allegedly funneled by former congressman Zaldy Co, calling the accusations fabrications designed to damage a priest’s reputation.
“We categorically deny these allegations. They are false,” the foundation said, describing the claims as “malicious, defamatory, and a grave injustice against a priest who has devoted his life to serving the poor, accompanying EJK victims and their families, and defending the dignity of those whose voices are often unheard.”
The denial responds to statements given before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, where one of 18 men identifying themselves as former Philippine Marines described handing money to Fr. Flaviano Villanueva. The witness said one drop took place at a church along Mindanao Avenue. “Si Father Flavie ay hinatiran ko ng pera doon sa Mindanao Ave. Isang sobre ‘yun, sir,” he told the panel, adding, “… Sa mismong simbahan niya, sir, sa gilid ng kalsada.” He also claimed to have carried a suitcase of cash to a location he identified as “33 Clemente,” saying, “Isang maleta… Binuhat ko papunta sa sasakyan niya.”
Villanueva, a priest of the Society of the Divine Word and a 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient, has faced hostility before because of his work alongside victims of violence, according to the organization.
The foundation argued that the witness account falls apart under scrutiny. It noted that no specific church was named and said no SVD parish, church, or ministry center along Mindanao Avenue in Quezon fits the description offered. The supposed “33 Clemente” handover, the group said, rests on no evidence and amounts to “nothing more than a fabricated accusation.” It maintained that none of the described exchanges took place.
The group said it has begun legal proceedings over the testimony. “We intend to hold accountable those who have chosen to bear false witness. We will not allow decades of faithful ministry to be tarnished by fabricated stories and reckless accusations,” it said.
The Senate testimony reached beyond Villanueva. The men also named Senators Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Erwin Tulfo, along with several members of the House, as recipients of cash-filled suitcases — accusations those officials have rejected.
Villanueva had earlier joined ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima in disputing the assertion that the two received money from Co, a central name in the flood control controversy. In March, the pair lodged a cyberlibel complaint with the National Bureau of Investigation and a perjury complaint with the Department of Justice.
