Senator Joel Villanueva called for a firing squad for people proven guilty of involvement in the flood control corruption scheme, proposing a punishment that cannot currently be imposed under Philippine law.
Villanueva made the statement Friday during the Senate budget hearing for the Commission on Higher Education(CHED) and state universities and colleges. The discussion initially focused on extreme weather forecasting before turning to recurring flooding in Bulacan and corruption involving flood control projects.
“I am always for justice. Until now, gusto ko ngang i-firing squad iyong lahat ng may kaso dito na talagang mapapatunayan na parte nitong scheme na ito, itong kalokohan na ito, itong kabulastugan na nangyari dahil number one na naapektuhan yung probinsya namin sa Bulacan,” Villanueva said.
The Philippines has prohibited the death penalty since 2006 under Republic Act No. 9346. This means execution by firing squad is not an available punishment under current law, including for people convicted in cases connected to the flood control controversy.
Villanueva had made a similar call earlier in the month. During the September 3 Senate hearing on the Commission on Audit’s proposed 2027 budget, he said he supported a firing squad for people found guilty of stealing public funds intended for flood control projects.
The senator linked his position to the damage caused by flooding in Bulacan. He said he had spent years asking the Department of Public Works and Highways to develop an integrated flood control program for the province.
Villanueva has also addressed allegations that previously linked his name to the controversy. Former DPWH district engineer Henry Alcantara alleged that P150 million was delivered to a rest house in Bulacan and received by one of Villanueva’s employees. Alcantara also said Villanueva did not know that P600 million in projects allocated to him had been converted into flood control projects.
No formal charges have been filed against Villanueva. COA Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba also said fraud audits had found no link between Villanueva and the Bulacan flood control projects they covered.
