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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Villars under probe on 'awards' of P18.5-B government projects to 'a relative' -- DOJ

Villars under probe on 'awards' of P18.5-B government projects to 'a relative' -- DOJ

Published Oct 1, 2025 06:03 pm
Senator Mark Villar, his sister Sen. Camille Villar, and their mother former senator Cynthia Villar are under investigation on the alleged awards of P18.5 billion worth of government projects to a relative, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said.
“Prohibited interest really has to stop,” declared DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla before reporters on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
Remulla explained that the DOJ investigation stemmed from a news report which stated that a cousin of Sen. Mark Villar was awarded with multiple government projects.
“That prohibited interest with his cousin being a contractor in Las Pinas” is what the Villars are now under investigation, he said.
He also said that “P18.5 billion ang sabi sa report (the report said P18.5 billion) but we have to flesh it out because we can’t rely on a newspaper as a source of evidence because the media just give us the leads that we have to follow.”
Remulla said he has issued a directive to get copies of the documents gathered by the news outlet for its story.
He explained that the investigation will cover the time Sen. Mark Villar was secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) up to the present.
At the same time, Remulla said the investigation of the Villars is just part of the many prohibited interests being investigated across the country.
He pointed out that contractors who are related to lawmakers from the “first to the fourth degree of consanguinity” should not take government infrastructure projects.
The Villars could not be contacted for comment as of posting time.
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