Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa declared he would step down from his post if fellow lawmaker Joel Villanueva is proven to have played a role in the alleged anomalies surrounding flood control projects.
During the ongoing probe into the multibillion-peso controversy, Dela Rosa stressed that Villanueva would never have allowed such a deal had he known that the assistance extended to him was tied to questionable flood control funds. “Magre-resign ako kung mapatunayan na konektado siya,” Dela Rosa said, underscoring his trust in Villanueva’s integrity.
The controversy stems from revelations by former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official Henry Alcantara. In his sworn testimony, Alcantara said Villanueva had requested support for a multipurpose building in 2022. However, what later came through in 2023 was a staggering ₱600 million allocation, redirected entirely into flood control projects under the category of unprogrammed appropriations.
Villanueva has consistently denied involvement in the flood control mess, stressing that what he sought was funding for community facilities, not drainage or dike projects. He maintained that he neither authorized nor endorsed the flood allocations.
The National Bureau of Investigation has since recommended the filing of indirect bribery and malversation cases against Villanueva and other lawmakers. Authorities have also ordered the freezing of his assets pending further proceedings, even as Villanueva asserted he is “fully prepared” to face the inquiry.
The controversy has become one of the country’s largest infrastructure scandals in recent years, with whistleblowers testifying that flood control projects were often substandard, overpriced, or entirely non-existent to accommodate kickbacks of at least 20 percent. Protests have erupted nationwide, demanding accountability and the recovery of misused funds.
Dela Rosa, who earlier pushed for the reimposition of the death penalty for plunder, said the ongoing hearings must hold everyone accountable. He has framed his readiness to resign as both a defense of Villanueva and a stand on principle should evidence prove otherwise.
