THE Office of the Ombudsman on Friday filed criminal and administrative cases against members of the Villar family and PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. officials over “grossly disadvantageous” joint venture agreements with local water districts.
Named in the complaints were Manny Villar Jr., his wife, Cynthia Villar, their children Mark, Camille and Manuel Paolo Villar, along with PrimeWater President Fe Rebancos and Vice President Romeo Sabater.
Ombudsman spokesman Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the agency was holding the respondents accountable for obligations allegedly left unfulfilled by PrimeWater.
“We are piercing the corporate veil and holding the individuals behind the corporation liable for the nonfulfillment and noncompliance 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.
PrimeWater signed joint venture agreements with 75 local water districts from 2015 to 2022, while 19 of the districts later issued notices of pretermination over alleged failures to meet its obligations, including an uninterrupted water supply.
Clavano cited Commission on Audit findings showing P65.65 million in unpaid obligations for materials and supplies used by the three water districts.
In a statement on Friday, Manny Villar said he had yet “to receive copies of the complaints and therefore cannot meaningfully comment” on the complaints filed before the Ombudsman.
“We respect the legal process and will respond to the complaints at the appropriate time and in the proper 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,” the former senator said.
He asked “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.”
