Ombudsman to kind process drive to probe flood management initiatives tied to Villars

Ombudsman Boying Remulla says they’ll look into the flood management initiatives inbuilt Las Piñas and Cavite, the place Villar properties are additionally positioned

MANILA, Philippines – Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla introduced on Tuesday, November 4, {that a} process drive will probably be shaped to research flood management initiatives allegedly linked to the Villars.

“Sa (On the) Villar, we could also be placing up a brand new process drive for the river drive and for the flood management of Las Piñas. Bacoor or Las Pinas space, kasi ando’n ‘yung mga lupa na nag-benefit din eh (as a result of the lands that benefited from these initiatives are there). They’re the landowners additionally that benefitted from that. So we’ve to take a look at that additionally,” Remulla stated.

“We’re forming a brand new process drive for that, only for Villar itself,” he added.

Remulla stated enhancements have been made in Zapote river drive in Las Piñas, in addition to in Bacoor in Cavite. The Ombudsman stated it’s identified among the many locals that the Villars allegedly personal the stated lands.

The chief anti-graft buster stated the multi-bullion peso mission is round 11 kilometers lengthy. Villar properties are positioned alongside its perimeter, Remulla added.

“Nakita mo ‘yong river wall. Tanong mo, sino gumastos? Gobyerno o sila? Ganoon kasimple ‘yon. It’s so simple as that. So we are going to decide that afterward, sa costing ng mission na nangyari do’n,” Remulla stated.

(You noticed the river wall. You’ll ask, who spent on these initiatives? Authorities or them? It’s that straightforward. So we are going to decide later that afterward, on the costing of the mission that occurred there.)

Throughout his time period as Division of Justice secretary, Remulla introduced that his company launched a probe into the Villars as a consequence of their ties to a contractor. Remulla stated the ombudsman’s new process drive is not going to solely probe the flood management initiatives in Las Piñas and Cavite, but additionally all different infrastructure contracts allegedly linked to the Villar household.

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A Rappler investigation revealed that Motiontrade, the agency owned by Christian Aguilar, Senator Mark Villar’s uncle, bagged P390 million price of flood management mission. Between 2023 and 2025, the agency additionally secured a complete of 32 DPWH initiatives amounting to over P2.8 billion.

Aguilar is the brother of former senator Cynthia Villar. (READ: Agency owned by Senator Mark Villar’s uncle bagged P390M in flood management initiatives)

However what occurs if the Villars refuse to cooperate within the probe?

“I feel they should. It’s not a matter of them desirous to, however they must cooperate,” Remulla stated. – Rappler.com