MANILA—The Office of the Ombudsman has filed criminal and administrative complaints against Senators Mark A. Villar and Camille A. Villar, former senators Manuel B. Villar Jr. and Cynthia A. Villar, Manuel Paolo Villar, and other officials over allegedly deficient water services under joint venture agreements involving PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. (PWIC) and local water districts.

In a report, it said that Assistant Ombudsman Jose Dominic “Mico” F. Clavano IV said that the complaints have entered preliminary investigation, during which the respondents will be given an opportunity to answer the allegations.

The Ombudsman’s investigation initially covers joint venture agreements involving the Quezon Metropolitan Water District, San Pedro Water District, and Trece Martires Water District.

Clavano said the investigation stemmed from a report by the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel covering 75 local water districts that entered into joint venture agreements with PWIC from 2015 to 2022. The Ombudsman found the agreements “grossly disadvantageous.”

The agreements involved the financing, development, rehabilitation, expansion, improvement, operation and maintenance of water supply and septage facilities.

Of the 75 water districts, 19 have issued notices of pre-termination over PWIC’s alleged failure to fulfill its obligations, Clavano said.

“It has reportedly failed to supply uninterrupted water resources and has instead provided poor drinking water standards among other complaints against it,” he said.

The Ombudsman also said residents had raised complaints about interrupted water supply and unclean water.

For the three water districts initially covered by the investigation, Commission on Audit records showed PWIC had failed to pay for its utilization and consumption of supplies and materials, resulting in unpaid obligations totaling P65,650,708.07.

The complaints identify Mark Villar, a former Department of Public Works and Highways secretary and former Local Water Utilities Administration Board of Trustees member, as a beneficial owner of PWIC and Prime Assets Ventures Inc.

“Hence, we are filing criminal and administrative complaints against Mark A. Villar, former DPWH Secretary and beneficial owner of Primewater Infrastructure Corp. and Prime Assets Ventures Inc. Other owners include Manuel B. Villar Jr., Cynthia A. Villar, Camille A. Villar, and Manuel Paolo Villar,” he added.

PWIC president Fe Rebancos and vice president Romeo Sabater were also named respondents, along with Quezon Metropolitan Water District general manager Enrico Pasumbal, San Pedro Water District general manager Guillermo Pili, and Trece Martires Water District general manager Juliet Ocampo.

Members of the three water districts’ Joint Venture Selection Committees and their Boards of Directors were likewise included in the complaints.

Clavano said the respondents are facing possible indictment for alleged violations of Sections 3(e) and 3(g) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Section 3(e) covers acts that cause undue injury to the government or another party, or give a private party unwarranted benefits or advantages. Section 3(g), meanwhile, prohibits public officials from entering into contracts or transactions that are grossly disadvantageous to the government, regardless of whether the official personally benefited.

Clavano said the investigation is not limited to the three water districts, with other local water districts still being examined.

“[T]here are still more water districts under investigation, and expectantly more cases in the pipelines,” Mr. Clavano said.

Meanwhile, former senator Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. said in a statement around Friday night that he had learned of the complaints through media reports but had yet to receive copies of the documents.

“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.”

Villar said he would respond to the complaints through the proper legal process once given the opportunity to review the allegations and supporting evidence.

“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.”

He also urged that the legal process be allowed to proceed before conclusions are made about the allegations.

“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.”