Photo Shows Joel Villanueva with Henry Alcantara Before Scam Breaks Out
JOEL VILLANUEVA – The senator’s name is once again being linked to former DPWH Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara, who is currently at the center of a billion-peso flood control scam.
A resurfaced photo, originally posted on Villanueva’s official Facebook page on November 24, 2021, shows him on a boat ride with Alcantara. Also present were Bocaue Mayor Jonjon Villanueva, Joel’s brother, and Vice Mayor Sherwin Tugna, his brother-in-law. Interestingly, the photo has since been deleted from the page without explanation.
The image has fueled speculation about Villanueva’s ties to Alcantara. However, the senator has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, insisting that photos and videos alone do not prove anything. He also pointed out that Alcantara had taken pictures with many other politicians.
The controversy deepened this week during a tense House hearing when former Bulacan district engineer Jaypee Mendoza presented screenshots of alleged private messages between Villanueva and Alcantara from 2023. In these supposed conversations, Villanueva allegedly complained about receiving a “small” share of flood control allocations. One exchange even referenced a meeting at the Jesus Is Lord (JIL) church, which the Villanueva family founded.
This revelation comes amid growing allegations against several high-profile politicians. DPWH Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez testified during the hearing, naming Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva as being involved in the flood control corruption scheme. Hernandez claimed that Senator Estrada allocated ₱355 million for Bulacan projects in 2025, with 30% allegedly going to kickbacks.
However, these claims were contradicted by contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II, who testified in the Senate a day earlier. When Senator Estrada directly asked if any senators solicited money after project bids were awarded, Discaya firmly answered, “None.”
Despite this, Discaya and his wife Sarah revealed that several congressmen and DPWH officials pressured them to give 10% to 25% of project funds. They claimed that House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Appropriations Chair Zaldy Co received the largest share, around 30%, with additional amounts allegedly distributed to other lawmakers.