TAKING cue from what has been aptly referred to as a father’s advice, Senator Joel officially joined the new majority bloc ending the Senate power struggle.
Beyond the senator’s political maneuver under the safety and protection of the Jesus Is Lord (JIL) sect, his father — JIL Founder Bro. Eddie Villanueva, also made questionable claims bordering on fake news, disinformation, and at times outright falsehoods right from the pulpit.
DEMOLITION JOB
After showing Joel’s video speech, Bro. Eddie quickly took the stage and made a swiping claim that his son is a victim of ‘massive black propaganda and demolition jobs.’
“Maraming nagtatanong bakit siya, sa dami ng politiko sa Pilipinas, bakit siya? Sangkatutak ang ginawa niyang kabutihan.”
He urged the audience to check Joel’s record as a congressman for nine years, his six years as TESDA Secretary, and his stint in the Senate.
JOEL THE GREAT
Talking about Joel’s supposed accomplishments, Bro. Eddie said his son was number one against the Charter Change and the so-called “Fake People’s Initiative” which sought to remove term limits.
He also claimed Joel helped stop POGO operations and Chinese mafia activities, serving as principal author of an unspecified law, which allegedly led to death threats from protectors of POGO interests in the Philippines.
Finally, he defended his son’s actions during the first impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte when Senator Francis Escudero was still the Senate president.
“Napagkamalan siyang tumulong to kill the impeachment ni Sara Duterte last year. Ginawa lang niya ang tungkulin niyang hintayin ang decision ng Supreme Court bago ituloy ang impeachment trial.”
The Senate ultimately archived the Articles of Impeachment, effectively killing the case. In the end, the Supreme Court ruled that the first impeachment articles are unconstitutional.
PURE RHETORICS
Among these claims are fragments of truth mixed with strong opinion. A review of factual and impartial records reveals significant gaps.
First, while Joel was indeed opposed to the People’s Initiative in 2024, calling him “Number One” is irresponsible and impossible to quantify.
On January 23, 2024, all 24 senators, led by then Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, signed a manifesto condemning the ongoing People’s Initiative.
This settles the matter: Joel was neither the sole nor the leading figure in stopping it.
YES TO NO
As for Joel supposedly stopping POGO, the facts are more ironic. Joel voted yes in favor of legislation regulating and effectively legalizing POGO operations in 2021.
But after the backlash and Senate investigations exposed widespread criminal activity linked to POGO, Joel became one of several senators who later voted to ban it in 2025.
While it is true that Joel was among the principal authors of an anti-POGO measure under Senate Bill 2752, he was far from the only one.
The measure was later substituted by Senate Bill 2868, which became the Anti-POGO Act, authored by Sens. Gatchalian, Bong Go, Raffy Tulfo, Pia Cayetano, Grace Poe, Risa Hontiveros, and Villanueva.
It was also Hontiveros’ investigations that led to the exposure of Guo Hua Ping, also known as Alice Guo, who now faces multiple criminal cases and has already been convicted of qualified human trafficking.
POLITICAL INTERPRETATION
Bro. Eddie’s third claim is more complicated because it rests largely on political interpretation rather than clear factual claims.
Critics accused Escudero of delaying impeachment proceedings through procedural maneuvers instead of following the Constitution’s instruction to act “forthwith,” or immediately convene as an impeachment court.
Villanueva, who was then the Senate Majority Floor Leader, was part of this process.
However, Joel’s own actions sent mixed signals.
He moved for Escudero and senators to take their oaths as presiding officer and senator-judges, formally constituting the impeachment court — but not immediately convening it.
CAUGHT ON CAM
What is not disputed, however, was video footage showing Joel coaching Senator Imee Marcos to interrupt a manifestation by Senator Hontiveros — one of only two senators pushing for immediate convening of the impeachment court and opposing Senator Ronald dela Rosa’s motion to dismiss.
“Go to the microphone. Say that the point of order takes precedence. Para tumigil siya.” Joel was caught on camera telling Marcos.
His strategy worked. Marcos interrupted, and the Senate President suspended the session.
In a report by Vera Files, Villanueva was described as “not just a coach of Imee Marcos,” but as a “typical politico who has a characteristic aversion to accountability,” suggesting tolerance for impunity.
GHOST PROJECT
And since Bro. Eddie himself urged the public to examine Joel’s history, it should be noted that in 2016, the Ombudsman ordered Villanueva dismissed over the misuse of P10 million in Priority Development Assistance Fund allocations dating back to his time as CIBAC partylist representative in 2008.
The Ombudsman imposed administrative sanctions for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of public service.
The allegations were ironically similar to accusations now faced by Sara Duterte involving ghost projects and unverified beneficiaries.
Joel’s defense? Identity theft.
Already serving as senator when the ruling came out, he neither stepped down nor was removed from office.
WEAPONIZING CHURCHES
Intentional or otherwise, churches and religion should not be used as platforms to advance personal or political interests — much less as instruments to mislead, deceive, or spread disinformation.
The JIL Church has repeatedly endorsed candidates through guest appearances and coordinated voting practices, despite publicly denying formal block voting, while simultaneously serving as a vehicle for advancing political interests.
Christianity has consistently preached love over suspicion and restraint over judgment, which explains why many remain faithful to JIL.
But where should one draw the line?
Perhaps when leaders begin to appear more godlike than God Himself.