Villanueva is currently the director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
De Lima had said last week that Villanueva’s name appeared on the list prepared by former Technology Resource Center director general Dennis Cunanan, the government’s newest witness in the pork barrel scam case.
The list supposedly contained the names of those who gave their pork barrel funds to bogus non-government organizations linked to alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.
“No case has been filed vs Joel Villanueva, hence, no legal compulsion for him to go on leave,” De Lima told reporters on Monday.
The Justice chief added that the National Bureau of Investigation, which is under the Department of Justice, was still “evaluating” the former lawmaker on his supposed role in the fund mess.
Villanueva had already denied the accusation.
“Sana tigilan na po ang pagdawit sa akin sa kontrobersiyang ito,” Villanueva said in a text message to GMA News. “Wala po akong kinalaman dito kaya wala akong kaso hanggang ngayon.”
Villanueva also denied personally knowing Cunanan. —KG, GMA News
