Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has confirmed that aside from Senator Bong Go, his office will also look into a possible conflict-of-interest case involving Senator Mark Villar.
This came after reports surfaced that I&E Construction, owned by former Las Piñas City Councilor Carlo Aguilar—a cousin of Villar—allegedly secured ₱18.5 billion worth of infrastructure projects, particularly flood control contracts.
“We’re doing a study on that already. I assigned one of my people to make the legal study, on the (possible) conflict-of-interest involved when you have a relative contracting with government and you are in the position to mediate or to grant favor,” Remulla said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel’s (ANC) Headstart program.
Villar earlier maintained that he is ready to face any investigation that may be initiated against him.
The senator previously served as Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) during the entire term of former President Rodrigo Duterte, where he faced criticism for allegedly being a “credit grabber” after taking credit for several infrastructure projects that began under the administration of the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.