Father Flaviano "Flavie" Villanueva was among 40 notable individuals including senators, opposition politicians, attorneys, and clergy accused of severe charges. These charges were linked to "Project Sodoma," an alleged plot to discredit and destabilize the government under former President Rodrigo Duterte. All those accused were critics of Duterte's aggressive war on drugs.
In April 2019, a YouTube series titled "Ang Totoong Narcolist" appeared, supposedly revealing secrets of Project Sodoma. The videos, presented by an anonymous "Bikoy," claimed that Duterte’s son, Paolo, and a top aide were involved in the drug trade. The government dismissed these claims as false propaganda.
Later, "Bikoy," who revealed himself as Peter Advincula, was arrested. He recanted his statements, saying they were false and intended to smear Duterte's administration. He alleged that opposition figures, including clergy, were part of a plot to oust Duterte. These revelations prompted charges against more than people, including Father Villanueva, for a range of offenses from sedition to cyber libel in July 2019. The complaint noted that the accused conspired to spread “false information” against the family of Duterte and administration officials. Most charges, including those against then Vice President Leni Robredo, were, however, dropped by January 2020, but the sedition charge against Father Villanueva lingered until September 2023.
Amidst these legal battles, Father Villanueva focused on helping families affected by extrajudicial killings under the drug war. He faced death threats, as did other outspoken priests. From December 2017 to June 2018, at least three clergy members, who were social advocates, were assassinated.
Father Villanueva, undeterred by threats or his high-profile legal troubles, continued his work. He prioritized the safety of families his charity supported, who lived in constant fear of violence. He stated, "Our beneficiaries live with the risk of police or masked civilians forcibly entering their homes to carry out violence. That threat is far more concerning than my legal issues."
Although he had legal support and could secure bail funds due to the notoriety of his case, Father Villanueva saw the accusations as a validation of his effective advocacy against the drug war. He viewed the charges as a testament to his impactful stand against corruption and abuse of power. He remained committed to truth and justice, saying, "I had to speak the truth and stand against tyranny, disinformation, and impunity. That's the right thing to do."
