The Preacher’s Paradox: Joel Villanueva’s JIL Anniversary Claims and the Record He Can’t Ignore

Senator Joel Villanueva took the stage at the Jesus Is Lord Church’s 47th anniversary and declared himself innocent of corruption and flood control controversies. Yet, official records, testimonies, and past rulings tell a more complicated story. This piece examines how faith, politics, and power intertwine — and why accountability should matter even to those who preach it.

Morning Coffee Thoughts – October 20, 2025

On October 18, Senator Joel Villanueva stood before more than a million worshippers at the Jesus Is Lord Church’s 47th anniversary celebration in Luneta Grandstand. The tone was firm, almost pleading:

“Kaya ko pong tingnan ang bawat isa sa inyo dito mga kapwa ko JIL. Mata sa mata, wala tayong flood control. Hindi tayo sangkot sa katiwalian.”

He looked out at the crowd — thousands of believers who grew up with the same ministry that shaped his public image — and declared himself clean of corruption.

When faith turns into defense and politics finds its way to the pulpit, questions quietly rise behind applause.

What the Records Say

While Villanueva denied any role in flood control projects, Senate Blue Ribbon Committee documents tell another story. Senator Panfilo Lacson confirmed that ₱600 million was inserted into the 2023 national budget under unprogrammed funds for flood control projects in Bulacan.

The list included rehabilitation of flood control structures, drainage improvement, and flood mitigation efforts. These weren’t rumors — they were entries in government records.

Villanueva has denied requesting or endorsing the projects. Yet in a country where documents outlast speeches, those details remain on file.

The Engineer’s Testimony

Former DPWH Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara testified before the Senate that he handed ₱150 million in “assistance” to Senator Villanueva in 2022.

He also admitted to certifying a ₱55 million ghost flood control project in Baliwag, which existed only on paper. Alcantara claimed Villanueva initially asked for ₱1.5 billion for a building project but received ₱600 million instead. These statements are now part of sworn testimony.

How Kickbacks Become Routine

Former DPWH Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez said senators, including Villanueva, allegedly received 30% kickbacks from budget insertions.

Contractors from the Discaya group, which secured ₱31 billion worth of projects from 2022 to 2024, testified that DPWH officials demanded 10–25% as “SOP.”

The Commission on Audit later flagged 3,000 delayed or defective projects worth ₱131 billion — projects meant to protect communities that still drown each year.

The NBI’s Recommendation

On September 22, 2025, the National Bureau of Investigation recommended the filing of criminal charges against Senator Villanueva for indirect bribery and malversation.

The Department of Justice later forwarded its findings to the Ombudsman for action.

Patterns We’ve Seen Before

Some have dismissed these cases as politics, but the record shows that this is not new for Villanueva.

In 2016, then-Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered his dismissal from public service for grave misconduct and serious dishonesty.

The case involved ₱10 million in PDAF funds funneled to a ghost NGO, with forged project documents later uncovered.

Villanueva denied wrongdoing and claimed his signatures were forged. Despite the Ombudsman’s order, he stayed in office, ran again, and returned to the Senate.

Faith as Defense

The JIL anniversary stage blurred the line between celebration and courtroom. Villanueva asked the congregation, “Tanong ko po mga kapwa ko JIL people, meron po bang nasaktan sa mga ginawa natin?”

His father, Eddie Villanueva, used the pulpit to defend him, warning of a “sumpa ng Diyos” against those who criticize his son.

Representative Ridon answered plainly: “Kahit isumpa mo pa ako, the evidence stands.”

The Moment That Revealed Character

During the impeachment hearings of Vice President Sara Duterte in June 2025, Villanueva was caught on camera coaching Senator Imee Marcos to interrupt Senator Risa Hontiveros.

The act drew criticism. He later voted to send the impeachment case back to the House, a move legal experts described as unconstitutional.

The People Left Drowning

The Commission on Audit found thousands of delayed and defective flood control projects worth ₱131 billion.

Reports showed how communities remain flooded while contractors thrive.

Even the President addressed it in his SONA, telling officials involved in kickbacks, “Mahiya naman kayo.”

Shame doesn’t drain floodwater. Accountability does.

The Senate’s Silence

Despite the 2016 dismissal order and the NBI’s 2025 recommendation, the Senate has remained unmoved.

Villanueva was re-elected in 2022 and continues to enjoy perfect attendance and active bill filing.

Attendance alone doesn’t prove service. It only shows survival.

A Gentle Appeal to the Faithful: Courage to Question

To everyone who stood in Luneta or watched from home — to those whose faith and hope are tied to the Jesus Is Lord Church — these words come with respect.

Loyalty to faith leaders runs deep in our culture. It’s natural to honor those who have guided you and brought comfort through the years. Still, real faith asks for courage. It calls for honesty when the truth starts to sting.

Think about the families who live beside rivers that spill over each year. Think about sleepless nights spent guarding doors from floodwater. Think about the children wading through murky streets on their way to school. These are the people who carry the cost of failed projects and broken promises. Meanwhile, the leaders who speak of service often live far from the chaos they’ve allowed.

Faith calls for justice, not silence.

Jesus never turned away from corruption. He stood in temples and confronted deceit. He told people to look at what was done, not what was said. He warned against wolves in sheep’s clothing. His message was simple: discernment matters, even when it’s uncomfortable.

These words come from care for faith itself — for its call to compassion, honesty, and accountability. Blind faith looks away from suffering and pretends it’s devotion.

Ask yourself:

Do we hold those we admire to the same standards as those we oppose?
When evidence appears, do we face it or dismiss it?
Are we protecting the church or the people who misuse it?

Asking hard questions honors your church more than silence ever will.

The faithful deserve truth. They deserve to know how their offerings, their trust, and their prayers are being used. Wouldn’t you want those responsible for your hardship investigated, whoever they may be?

Faith is powerful. When it ignores injustice, it drifts far from what Jesus taught.

Let us keep hoping for truth that brings healing — to our churches, our families, and to the nation that keeps believing.

What Accountability Should Look Like

Accountability means stewardship. It guards public trust and protects those who have the least.

Senator Villanueva owes the public a clear explanation — the ₱600 million insertion, the testimonies from DPWH officials, and his past case. He owes transparency to the people of Bulacan, who still wade through floodwater each year while projects remain unfinished. He owes honesty to the very congregation that prays for him.

The Senate must act on findings, suspend where necessary, and stop treating membership as immunity. The DOJ and Ombudsman must let the law do its work swiftly and visibly.

And the public — the faithful — must remember. Not out of hatred, but because forgetting is how the cycle survives.

Truth Over Pulpits

Villanueva can quote scripture or stand before millions, but testimonies, financial records, and audit findings don’t vanish with sermons. His father can call down curses from heaven, but the documents are already written here on earth.

The faithful deserve faith that tells the truth — even when it hurts.

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