MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman on Friday filed criminal and administrative complaints against former Public Works secretary Mark Villar, members of the Villar family and PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. officials over joint venture agreements with local water districts that the anti-graft agency found to be “grossly disadvantageous.”
Named in the complaints were Mark Villar, Manuel B. Villar Jr., Cynthia Villar, Camille Villar and Manuel Paolo Villar, along with PrimeWater president Fe Rebancos and vice president Romeo Sabater.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano, Ombudsman spokesman, said the agency was holding the individuals behind PrimeWater accountable for obligations allegedly left unfulfilled by the company.
“We are piercing the corporate veil and holding the individuals behind the corporation liable for the non-fulfillment and non-compliance of certain obligations that they owe to the public,” Clavano said.
The complaints cover Quezon Metropolitan Water District, San Pedro Water District in Laguna and Trece Martires City Water District, and allege violations of Sections 3(e) and 9(g) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Clavano said PrimeWater entered into joint venture agreements with 75 local water districts from 2015 to 2022, while 19 of those districts later issued notices of pre-termination over alleged failures to meet its obligations, including uninterrupted water supply.
He also cited Commission on Audit findings showing P65.65 million in unpaid obligations for materials and supplies used by the three water districts covered by the complaints.
Clavano said the complaints were filed Friday and have entered preliminary investigation, with the respondents still given an opportunity to answer the allegations.
