A MAJOR government contractor and cousin of Sen. Mark Villar—who has been implicated in allegedly receiving multi-million-peso commissions from flood control projects—has fled the country, a lawmaker revealed yesterday.
Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos disclosed that politician-contractor Carlo Aguilar left the Philippines just five days after former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo testified before the Senate last month.
Bernardo claimed that former DPWH Undersecretary for Planning Cathy Cabral—allegedly with Secretary Villar’s backing—directed him to prepare project lists and funding proposals. He further alleged that commissions from approved projects were divided as follows: 50% for Aguilar, 25% for Cabral, and 25% for himself.
Santos said Aguilar departed through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for Tokyo, Japan on November 19 and has not returned to the country since then.
“Fleeing is an admission of guilt. Escaping the country only strengthens the suspicion that Mr. Aguilar has much to answer for,” Santos said.
Last week, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) submitted a referral to the Office of the Ombudsman recommending further investigation of former senator Bong Revilla Jr. and several others over anomalous flood control projects.
The ICI referral likewise sought deeper investigation into Senators Francis Escudero and Mark Villar, former senators Grace Poe and Nancy Binay, and Aguilar, based on the affidavits and testimonies of Bernardo.
ICI chairperson Justice Andres Reyes Jr. said the potential charges may include direct or indirect bribery, corruption of public officials, plunder, and various administrative sanctions.
Carlo Aguilar is the son of Christian Aguilar, the older brother of former Sen. Cynthia Villar, making Carlo a first cousin of Senators Mark and Camille Villar. Carlo previously served as Las Piñas City Councilor for District 2 from 2010 to 2019.
In October 2025, then Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed that the DOJ was investigating Senators Mark and Camille Villar and their mother, Cynthia, for alleged “prohibited interest” in government infrastructure projects.
The probe stemmed from reports that a construction firm owned by Aguilar had secured ₱18.5 billion worth of government contracts.
Motiontrade Development Corporation—owned by Carlo and his brother Christian Aguilar—reportedly obtained more than ₱2.8 billion worth of DPWH contracts from 2023 to 2025.
Santos added that based on official documents he obtained, a construction firm linked to Carlo Aguilar cornered 161 public works contracts worth billions of pesos since 2016, the same year Sen. Mark was appointed DPWH secretary by then-President Rodrigo Duterte.
He noted that I&E Construction Corp. also bagged multiple projects in Las Piñas starting 2016, including the ₱6.9-billion construction and rehabilitation of a flood control structure along Alabang–Zapote Road.
Santos called on the Office of the Ombudsman, Commission on Audit (COA), and Congress to investigate potential conflicts of interest, preferential treatment, and possible violations of procurement laws.
He likewise urged the DPWH to release all documents related to the bidding, award, and implementation of the 161 projects to ensure full transparency.
