Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa declared he is ready to resign if it is proven that his minority bloc ally, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Joel Villanueva, was involved in anomalous flood control projects and accepted kickbacks.
Speaking during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Thursday, September 25, dela Rosa made the statement after questioning former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan 1st District Engineer Henry Alcantara and former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo about Villanueva’s alleged role in the controversy.
“Kaya nga gusto ko sabihin sa inyo, kung sabihin nyo involved si Sen. (Joel) Villanueva sa flood control (anomalies), right here, right now, mag-resign ako sa pagka-Senador kung sabihin mo na humingi siya ng flood control (kickback) dahil ilang taon ko nang naririnig yan na sinasabi nya na ayaw nya ng flood control, galit na galit sya dahil ang Bulacan nababaha,” dela Rosa said.
While clarifying that he was not defending anyone, dela Rosa stressed it was difficult to believe that Villanueva was part of the irregularities, noting that the senator had consistently questioned flood control projects in the past.
Villanueva, for his part, has earlier maintained that he is ready to face the accusations linking him to alleged kickbacks from questionable flood control projects.