LAS Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos criticized the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) for failing to summon Carlo Aguilar, owner of several construction firms allegedly linked to ₱18.5 billion worth of questionable government projects in Calabarzon and Las Piñas, and a cousin of Senator Mark Villar.
Santos said the omission casts doubt on the integrity and impartiality of the ICI investigation into alleged “ghost projects” involving firms tied to Aguilar, who reportedly managed I&E Construction, Omnicon Builders, and Zero One Construction and Trading, all of which secured dozens of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) contracts between 2022 and 2025.
“If the ICI truly seeks the truth behind billions in unaccounted projects, then no one should be spared from questioning — not even relatives of powerful politicians,” Santos said.
A Bilyonaryo News Channel report earlier revealed that I&E Construction, tied to defeated Las Piñas mayoralty candidate Aguilar, had secured ₱18.5 billion worth of government projects.
I&E Construction has been linked alongside another contractor, Wawao Builders, to alleged “ghost projects” in flood control.
When Sen. Villar appeared before the ICI last week, he admitted that Aguilar is his cousin and ran under the Villar family’s Nacionalista Party ticket in the 2025 elections, where he lost to his cousin April Aguilar, a Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) candidate.
Aguilar is the son of former Sen. Cynthia Villar’s elder brother, Christian Aguilar.
Official DPWH records show that I&E Construction Corp. cornered 33 multimillion-peso infrastructure projects in Las Piñas from 2022 to 2025.
Two other firms reportedly managed by Aguilar — Omnicon Builders and Zero One Construction and Trading Inc. — were awarded 39 and 33 projects, respectively, over the same period.
In addition, four construction firms owned by Sarah Discaya cornered 13 flood control and national infrastructure projects worth about ₱452 million in Las Piñas over the past three years.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is also looking into the alleged “prohibited interest” of the Villar family in the estimated ₱18.5 billion worth of infrastructure projects in Las Piñas City.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, formerly Justice Secretary, said the probe is necessary following reports that a close Villar relative owns a construction firm involved in several government-funded projects, including flood control initiatives.
Santos called on the ICI to explain why Aguilar was not among those invited to testify despite the firms’ heavy involvement in DPWH projects during Villar’s term.
“This selective investigation undermines public trust. The Filipino people deserve full accountability — not protection of political allies or relatives,” Santos said.
The lawmaker urged the ICI to immediately issue a subpoena to Aguilar and ensure that the probe continues without fear or favor, in keeping with its mandate to promote integrity and transparency in public infrastructure.
