Former Senate President and businessman Manny Villar has asked the public to withhold judgment as he and members of his family face criminal and administrative complaints filed by the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged problems involving PrimeWater’s joint venture agreements with local water districts.
Villar said his family has yet to receive copies of the complaints and therefore cannot yet respond to the specific allegations. He nevertheless expressed confidence that they will be able to defend themselves once they have reviewed the evidence and allegations in full.
“We respect the legal process and will respond to the complaints at the appropriate time and in the proper forum,” Villar said in a statement reported by GMA News and other Philippine media outlets.
He added that the family is confident it can “fully and properly defend” its rights and address the matters raised by the Ombudsman.
Villar also appealed for due process, saying conclusions should not be drawn before the parties involved have been given an opportunity to respond.
What triggered the Ombudsman complaints?
The complaints stem from an Ombudsman investigation into PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp.’s joint venture agreements with local water districts covering the period from 2015 to 2022.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the investigation lasted about six months and initially examined agreements involving 75 local water districts.
According to the Ombudsman, 19 of those districts later issued notices seeking pre-termination of their agreements, citing alleged failures by PrimeWater to meet its obligations. The concerns included alleged interruptions in water service and complaints about water quality.
The Ombudsman described the agreements under review as allegedly “grossly disadvantageous” to the local water districts. That characterization is an allegation made in the ongoing proceedings, rather than a final judicial finding.
₱65.65 million in obligations cited
Another major issue identified by investigators involves alleged unpaid obligations connected with materials and supplies belonging to three local water districts.
Philstar reported that the amount cited by the Ombudsman totals ₱65,650,708.07, involving the Quezon Metropolitan Water District, San Pedro Water District in Laguna, and Trece Martires City Water District.
The Ombudsman said the complaints involve possible violations of Sections 3(e) and 3(g) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Who was named in the complaints?
The respondents include Manny Villar, former senator Cynthia Villar, Senators Mark Villar and Camille Villar, and Manuel Paolo Villar.
PrimeWater executives and officials and board members associated with several local water districts were also included in the complaints.
The Ombudsman identified the Villar family members as beneficial owners of PrimeWater during the period covered by the investigation.
Mark Villar’s inclusion has also drawn attention because he served as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways from 2016 to 2021 and was a member of the Local Water Utilities Administration’s board of trustees during part of the period under review.
The case is not yet a final finding of guilt
An important distinction is that the complaints have entered the preliminary investigation stage.
That means the allegations are still being evaluated and the respondents will have an opportunity to answer them. The filing of a graft complaint does not by itself establish criminal or administrative liability.
News5 reported that the Ombudsman said the fact-finding report and complaint were signed and that the matter entered preliminary investigation on September 18.
The Ombudsman has also indicated that the initial complaints may not be the last, with additional water districts still under investigation.
PrimeWater has since changed ownership
The controversy comes after a major change in PrimeWater’s ownership.
Crystal Bridges Holding Corp., associated with businessman Lucio Co, completed its acquisition of PrimeWater from the Villar Group in May 2026. The company subsequently announced an initial ₱6.7-billion rehabilitation and expansion program for the water utility.
The investment program includes planned upgrades to water treatment plants, pumping stations, pipelines, reservoirs and other infrastructure.
Philstar also reported that the company, now operating as Hiraya Water, began a ₱600-million water-system rehabilitation project in Dasmariñas, Cavite, in July.
What happens next?
For the Villar family, the immediate issue is the preliminary investigation and the opportunity to formally answer the allegations.
For the Ombudsman, the investigation could expand as additional water districts and transactions are examined.
And for the public, the central questions will be whether the agreements actually disadvantaged the water districts, whether the alleged service and payment problems can be substantiated, and what responsibility—if any—the individual respondents may ultimately bear.
For now, no final determination of liability has been made. Villar’s position is that his family should first be given the complaints and evidence before conclusions are reached, while the Ombudsman maintains that the allegations warrant formal investigation.
