Sen Joel Villanueva sets record straight, hits back at Rep Zaldy Co

Sen Joel Villanueva sets record straight, hits back at Rep Zaldy Co

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on Monday belied Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co’s allegations that he was linked to the pork barrel scam.

In a privilege speech delivered on Monday, Villanueva said accusations against him have long been proven wrong.

“Pinersecute po tayo, pinaratangan, pero tapos na po ang laban. Noon pa, na-dismiss na po at ibinasurang lahat ang mga gawa-gawang reklamo sa atin,” he emphasized.

(We were persecuted, accused, but the fight is over. Even then, all fabricated complaints against us have been dismissed and junked.)

Villanueva then hit back at Co, saying it was the party-list congressman who had been hiding shady schemes. He claimed that Co’s Sunwest Corporation is involved in the Pharmally scandal and the controversial DepEd procurement of outdated laptops.

“May mga Tax Cases din ang Sunwest sa Bureau of Internal Revenue tulad ng sinabi sa atin ng isang dating BIR Commissioner. Bukod dito, ano po itong reklamo sa Ombudsman ng Anti-Corruption Group na Task Force Kasanag International?” the senator added.

(Sunwest also has Tax Cases with the Bureau of Internal Revenue as a former BIR Commissioner told us. Moreover, what is this complaint to the Ombudsman of the Anti-Corruption Group Task Force Kasanag International?)

“Kung maglalabas ka ng baho, Mr. President, dapat naman siguro naligo ka muna,” he continued.

(If you bare a stink, Mr. President, maybe you should have taken a bath first.)

READ: Villanueva told to stop acting ‘sanctimonious’ given link to PDAF scam

Villanueva likewise denied allegations that he is belittling the votes of their counterparts in the House of Representatives. He even mentioned that he takes great pride in being a former member of the lower chamber.

“Higit sa lahat, miyembro po ng Kamara at Party List Group ang

… Read more