Graft raps filed vs. Villars over PrimeWater's failure to deliver water supply - GMA Network

Two counts of graft have been filed against Senators Mark and Camille Villar, their parents Manuel and Cynthia, their brother Paolo, as well as other officials of local water districts over poor water service of the Villar-owned PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation, the Office of the Ombudsman said Friday.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said that the investigators of the Ombudsman reached the conclusion after around six months of investigation of Primewater’s joint venture deal with various water districts covering 2015 to 2022.

Clavano said the Villars are the beneficial owners of PrimeWater.

Two counts of graft complaints have been filed against Senators Mark and Camille Villar, their parents Manuel and Cynthia, their brother Paolo, as well as other officials of local water districts over poor water service of the once Villar-owned PrimeWater Infrastructure Corporation (PWIC), Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said Friday.

Clavano said the investigators of the Ombudsman reached the conclusion after around six months of investigation of PrimeWater’s joint venture deal with various water districts covering 2015 to 2022, part of which stemmed from a report of the Office of the Government Corporate Council (OGCC) and the findings of the Commission on Audit, which flagged PWIC's nonpayment of its P65.6 million collective dues to Quezon Metro Water District, Trece Martires City Water District, and San Pedro Laguna Water District.

According to state auditors, the P65.6-million unpaid obligation of PWIC should be used for the utilization or consumption of materials and supplies inventory of the local water districts.

Clavano said the Villars are the beneficial owners of PrimeWater during the covered period of the investigation.

"The Office of the Ombudsman is filing criminal and administrative complaints against several respondents in relation to an investigation on grossly disadvantageous joint venture agreements of PWIC. These JVs are for the financing, development, rehabilitation, expansion, improvement, operation and maintenance of water supply and septage in their respective jurisdictions, [but] we have found that the agreements of the PWIC with the local water districts are grossly disadvantageous to thee local water districts," Clavano said.

"Hence, we are filing criminal and administrative complaints against Mark A. Villar, former DPWH Secretary and beneficial owner of Prime Water Infrastructure Corporation and Prime Assets Ventures Incorporated. Other owners include Manuel B. Villar Jr., Cynthia A. Villar, Camille A. Villar, Manuel Paulo Villar, Fe. Rebancos, the President of PWIC, Romeo Sabater, Vice President of PWIC, among others," Clavano added.

Clavano said the two counts of graft were in relation to alleged violation of Sections 3.e and 3.g of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Section 3.e provides for "causing any undue injury to any party, including the government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence."

The same provision also applies "to officers and employees of offices or government corporations charged with the grant of licenses or permits or other concessions."

Section 3.g, on the other hand, provides for "entering, on behalf of the government, into any contract or transaction manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the same, whether or not the public officer profited or will profit thereby."

Senator Mark served as the Secretary of the DPWH from 2016 to 2021 before being elected senator in 2022.

The Local Water Utilities Administration, which regulates the local water districts, is an attached agency of the DPWH.

His sister Camille, on the other hand, served as Las Piñas representative from 2019 to 2025 before being elected in the Senate.

Their parents Manny and Cynthia are also both served as Las Piñas lawmaker and senator.

In closing, Clavano said this is just the first batch of PrimeWater-related complaints.

"This is the initial list, and there are still more water districts under investigation. There are more cases in the pipelines. Let us be clear: the Office of the Ombudsman will pursue cases against any individual regardless of stature, position, or how high up they may be in government," Clavano said.

"When the government is placed at a disadvantage, we are duty-bound to protect the public interest and ensure that accountability is upheld," Clavano added.

In response, former Senate president Manny Villar, the family patriarch, expressed confidence that they can dispute the Ombudsman's findings.

"We have learned through media reports of the complaints reportedly filed before the Office of the Ombudsman. As of this time, we have yet to receive copies of the complaints and therefore cannot meaningfully comment on their specific allegations," he said.

"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. We respect the legal process and will respond to the complaints at the appropriate time and in the proper forum," he added.

In addition, he cautioned the public against making any pre-judgment on the matter.

"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.

Clavano, in the same press conference, said the Villars will be asked to file their counter-affidavits to address the complaints which are now under preliminary investigation.

"We'll see how our preliminary investigation goes, and they have time to answer these allegations. That is part of due process," Clavano said.

Likewise, Clavano said that the complaints against the Villars were based on merit.

"We have been investigating this for quite a while. From the time we entered into office [in October 2025], we have been receiving complaints against PrimeWater. These complaints are not imagination," Clavano said.

"Ito po ay nararanasan ng taong bayan natin at maraming apektado rito. Mahirap pong sabihin na ito ay gawa-gawa lang dahil matagal na natin itong tinitignan at napakaraming tao at taong bayan mismo ang nag-complain dito sa mga problema ng tubig," Clavano added.

(A lot of people experience this problem and have been affected by this. These are not trumped up charges. We have been investigating this for quite a while, and our citizens have complained about the water problem they are facing.)

In December 2025, the Villar Group sold PWIC to Lucio Co Group’s Crystal Bridges Holding Corp. —AOL/ VDV, GMA News