Villar family faces graft complaints over PrimeWater contracts
MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman confirmed on Friday, September 18, that graft complaints are now pending against members of the Villar family due to allegations related to PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano confirmed that the Ombudsman filed criminal and administrative complaints against Senators Mark and Camille, former senators Manny and Cynthia Villar, and businessman Paolo Villar for preliminary investigation.
Also included in the complaints are officers of PWIC, as well as local water district officials.
Preliminary investigation is the step of criminal proceedings where prosecutors decide if there’s enough evidence against the respondents. If there is, the prosecutors will indict the respondents and file cases with courts.
“[This is] for violation, of section 3(e) and 3(g) of [Republic Act No.] 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. This is the initial list, and there are still more water districts under investigation, and expectantly more cases in the pipelines,” Clavano said.
In a statement, Manny Villar said they respect the legal process and will respond to the complaints at the proper time and forum.
“We are confident that, once given the opportunity to examine the allegations and the evidence supporting them, we will be able to fully and properly defend our rights and address the matters raised against us,” Villar said.
“In the meantime, we ask that the legal process be allowed to take its course and that conclusions not be drawn before the parties have been afforded the opportunity to be heard,” he added.
Also included in the complaints are the following PrimeWater and local water district officials:
- Fe Rebancos, PrimeWater president
- Romeo Sabater, PrimeWater vice president
- Enrico Pasumbal, Quezon Metropolitan Water district general manager
- Guillermo Pili Jr., San Pedro Water District general manager
- Juliet Ocampo, Trece Martires Water District general manager
According to the Ombudsman, the investigations stemmed from a report from the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel that showed that a total of 75 local water districts (LWDs) entered into joint venture agreements (JVA) with PrimeWater.
However, a report revealed that PrimeWater failed to supply uninterrupted water service and instead provided water that “allegedly failed to meet drinking water standards, among other complaints against the company.”
Other concerns also include questions on JVAs itself and PrimeWater’s deficient service, and how these happened under Mark Villar’s term as Department of Public Works and Highways secretary and Local Water Utilities Administration board of trustees Member.
The Ombudsman also noted that the Commission on Audit had flagged PrimeWater’s “non-payment for the utilization or consumption of materials and supplies inventory of the local water districts.”
“Considering the three (Quezon Metro, Trece Martires, and San Pedro, Laguna) areas, the total unpaid obligations of PWIC have reached P65,650,708.07,” said the Ombudsman.
The Villars are also facing a separate complaint with the Department of Justice for alleged violations of the Securities Regulation Code. The complaint, filed on January 30, is currently at the preliminary investigation level. – Rappler.com
