LAS Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos on Wednesday declared that the Villar family and their contractor relatives must answer to the public and fully cooperate with the newly formed task force probing the multi-billion peso Zapote River Drive and flood control projects across Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, and Bacoor.
This comes after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla confirmed that his office will form a specialized task force to determine whether taxpayer-funded projects—particularly the Zapote River Drive and river walls—may have increased the value of properties linked to the Villar group of companies.
“Yung perimeter niyan, Villar properties ang marami. They are among the lot owners that benefitted from that. We will determine who paid for what. It’s as simple as that,” Remulla said during a joint press briefing with Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Chair Andres Reyes Jr.
Remulla also noted that the probe will extend beyond Las Piñas and Cavite, encompassing other government infrastructure contracts allegedly tied to the Villar family.
Santos said the Ombudsman’s statement affirms long-standing concerns raised by residents who questioned why certain flood control and access road alignments appear to mirror the footprint of private developments.
“The Ombudsman has made it clear—this warrants scrutiny. The public deserves to know whether these projects were truly meant for flood mitigation or if they were designed to enhance private land values,” Santos said.
The Zapote River Drive stretches more than 11 kilometers from Bacoor through Las Piñas toward Muntinlupa, with several segments running directly alongside Villar-linked properties.
During his term as Justice Secretary, Remulla had previously announced a probe into the Villars due to links with a contractor.
Media reports identified Motiontrade, owned by Christian Aguilar—the uncle of Senator Mark Villar—as having secured P390 million in flood control projects, and a total of 32 DPWH contracts valued at over P2.8 billion between 2023 and 2025.
The Villar family has produced four senators — patriarch Manny Villar, his wife Cynthia, their son Mark, and most recently their daughter Camille — a clear example of one of the most entrenched political dynasties in the country.
Santos said the new review is “long overdue.”
“We are talking about multi-administration, multi-billion peso projects. If public works consistently end up benefiting the same private interests, then transparency is not just necessary—it’s a public right,” he said.
He stressed that cooperation from the Villar group is expected, not optional.
“This is not about politics. This is about accountability. If everything was aboveboard, then opening records, contracts, land titles, and development plans should not be a problem. Transparency is the minimum,” Santos said.
He added that the task force’s work is crucial for rebuilding trust in flood-prone communities that have seen billions spent on mitigation but continue to suffer from severe flooding.
“The question is simple: Sino ang tunay na nakinabang? Residents of Las Piñas and the Filipino people deserve a clear and honest answer.”
Santos said he will monitor the progress of the investigation to ensure it proceeds “without interference, whitewashing, or delay.”
