The Society of the Divine Word has strongly denied allegations raised during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing involving Fr. Flavie Villanueva.
The accusations were made by Joely Cadiao, one of the individuals who identified himself as a former Marine, who claimed that he personally delivered a suitcase containing money to Fr. Villanueva.
In a statement, the SVD said the allegations were completely false.
The congregation also refuted the witness’s claim that an envelope was delivered near a church along Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City and that a suitcase was brought to an address identified as “33 Clemente.”
According to the SVD, there is no evidence supporting the accusations, and there is no SVD parish or ministry center along Mindanao Avenue that matches the witness’s description.
The group described the allegations against the priest as malicious and defamatory, noting that Fr. Villanueva has long served poor communities and the families of victims of extrajudicial killings.
As a result, the SVD said it is already pursuing legal action against individuals allegedly responsible for spreading false accusations.
Aside from the SVD, the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Foundation and Program Paghilom also rejected the allegations.
The groups stressed that there is no SVD church, parish, or ministry center along Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City, contrary to the claims made by the supposed former Marines.
They described the accusations as “false,” “malicious,” “defamatory,” and a “grave injustice.”
(PHOTO COURTESY: Radyo Veritas)
