Las Piñas Lone District Representative Mark Anthony Santos has requested the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate whether Senators Mark Villar and Camille Villar properly divested their shares in their family’s private corporations upon taking office.
Santos emphasized the necessity of an independent probe to verify if the siblings strictly complied with ethical and legal mandates for civil servants, specifically regarding potential conflicts of interest.
“Public office is a public trust. Government officials must uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability, and they should avoid not only actual conflicts of interest but even the appearance of one,” Santos said.
The lawmaker’s call follows a reminder from Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, who recently warned government authorities against conflicts of interest, labeling them a “sin” in public service. Santos noted that public scrutiny has mounted over allegations that the Villars maintained active corporate interests while in office.
To support his claims, Santos pointed to a ₱12-million penalty levied by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against Villar Land Holdings Corp. (formerly Golden MV Holdings) and its directors, including the two senators, over alleged financial statement reporting and disclosure lapses.
He also highlighted pending civil and criminal complaints involving alleged insider trading and market manipulation tied to Villar Land, stating that these issues underscore the need to eliminate any perception of misconduct.
Under Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, government officials are legally mandated to resign from or divest their ownership in private business entities within a set timeframe if a conflict of interest arises.
Santos concluded that a thorough investigation is vital to protect the integrity of public institutions and ensure equal enforcement of the law, regardless of an official’s stature.