Mark Villar and Family Under Probe Because Of PHP 18.5 Billion Government Projects

Senator Mark Villar, his mother, and her sister are under probe.

Senator Mark Villar, his sister Sen. Camille Villar, and their mother, former senator Cynthia Villar, are under investigation due to this.

Amid the buzz and ongoing hearings about the anomalous flood control projects, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that a preliminary investigation is also underway into Senator Mark Villar over the PHP 18 billion worth of infrastructure contracts the government awarded to his cousin.

Also involved in the investigation are Senator Camille Villar, his sister, and former senator Cynthia Villar, his mother.

The Department of Justice is after Villar, not as a senator but as a former secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways. The contractor was his first cousin, and as per Remulla, this is a “prohibited interest.” He added that the contracts include flood control, building, and road projects – a “prohibited interest” that cannot be ignored.

“Siyempre kasama iyan, kasama rin iyan, it really has to stop, isa lang iyan, pero ano iyan it’s all over the Philippines, people know it,” Remulla said when asked about the involvement of Cynthia and Camille, as this is due to “related interests” and their positions in Congress.

“At least 126 cases are being looked into. This involves projects of all kinds—from school buildings to roads, asphalt overlay, and revetments. The amount cited in the preliminary report is P18.5 billion,” Remulla told reporters.

Remulla added that this is just one of the 67 that have already been identified in Congress. Nationwide, the cases could even go up to 200 or even more.

Meanwhile, the other officials, politicians, and senators tagged in the kickback mess are: