Bishop Elias Ayuban Jr. of Cubao rejected allegations linking Fr. Flaviano “Flavie” Villanueva, SVD, to an alleged flood control kickback scheme, saying details cited during a disputed Senate hearing were contradicted by the location of Society of the Divine Word parishes in the diocese and urging the public to rely on verified information.
The bishop’s statement came after witnesses appearing before a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on June 4 alleged that cash had been delivered to Villanueva near a church on Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City.
“Indeed, there is no church entrusted to the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) on Mindanao Avenue or anywhere in its vicinity,” Ayuban said.
Ayuban noted that within the Diocese of Cubao, the SVDs are present only in Sacred Heart Parish-Shrine in Kamuning, Sto. Niño de Violago Quasi-Parish, and the Divine Word Shrine along E. Rodriguez Avenue.
The Diocese of Cubao also issued a public clarification urging the faithful and the public to verify information before sharing it.
“The search for truth begins with verified information,” the diocese said.
“As conversations unfold and information continues to be shared, everyone is encouraged to uphold accuracy, responsibility, and charity,” it added.
Ayuban described the allegations as part of a broader problem of disinformation. “Disinformation is the work of the DEVIL, the father of lies (Jn 8:44),” he said.
“It sows confusion, division, and mistrust—things that run contrary to the Gospel. Let us then be vigilant in seeking and speaking the truth, for falsehood is never from God. Let us work together to combat disinformation and uphold the truth with charity and responsibility.”
Villanueva was among several public figures named during the hearing, which proceeded despite objections from Senate leaders following a chamber reorganization that removed Sen. Pia Cayetano as chairperson of the Blue Ribbon Committee and installed Sen. Erwin Tulfo in her place.
Tulfo had earlier issued a notice postponing the hearing, while Senate leaders questioned its authority to proceed. Nevertheless, senators allied with the Cayetano bloc continued with the proceedings and heard testimony from 18 individuals identifying themselves as former Marines.
The witnesses claimed they had served as couriers delivering suitcases filled with cash allegedly tied to anomalous flood control projects.
No documentary evidence linking Villanueva to any alleged cash delivery was presented during the hearing.
The Society of the Divine Word also rejected the accusations in a statement issued on June 4.
“We categorically deny these allegations. They are false,” the congregation said.
The religious order said the testimony attributed to Villanueva “acts and transactions that never occurred” and argued that allegations involving a supposed cash delivery near a church on Mindanao Avenue “collapses on its own facts.”
“No specific church was identified, and no SVD parish, church, or ministry center exists along Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City that matches the witness’s description,” the statement said.
The congregation also rejected allegations involving the alleged delivery of a suitcase to an address identified as “33 Clemente,” saying the accusation was “unsupported by any evidence and is nothing more than a fabricated accusation.”
Villanueva, known for his ministry to families of victims of the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign and for helping provide dignified burials to victims of extrajudicial killings, likewise dismissed the allegations.
“Plain lunacy. Absurd. Completely detached from reality,” he told LiCAS News.
The SVD said legal action had already been initiated and that it intended “to hold accountable those who have chosen to bear false witness.”
