A relative of Senator Mark Villar has left the Philippines amid growing allegations of corruption in flood control projects, a lawmaker said Wednesday, December 10.
Las Piñas Lone District Representative Mark Anthony Santos revealed that former Las Piñas City Councilor and mayoral candidate Carlo Aguilar, Villar’s cousin, departed for Tokyo, Japan on November 19—five days after former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo testified before the Senate about alleged commission schemes involving senior DPWH officials. Aguilar has not returned since, according to immigration records cited by Santos.
“Fleeing is an admission of guilt. Escaping the country only strengthens the suspicion that Mr. Aguilar has much to answer for,” the lawmaker said.
Bernardo alleged that former DPWH undersecretary for planning Cathy Cabral, allegedly backed by then-DPWH Secretary Villar, instructed him to prepare project lists and funding proposals that were later used to secure allocations for flood control projects.