Jamby shows proof of Villar's conflict of interest

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Jamby Madrigal filed a complaint of conflict of interest yesterday against Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. before the Senate ethics committee and submitted evidence to back up her allegations.

Villar refused to answer the allegations of Madrigal.

It is not clear when Sen. Pia Cayetano, committee chairwoman, would start hearing the complaint of Madrigal, as the committee has yet to be constituted.

In her 14-page complaint, Madrigal said Villar caused the C-5 Road Extension to be diverted to deliberately pass through the properties owned by his corporations.

A Department of Public Works and Highways’ project profile in 2005 would support her allegations, she added.

Madrigal said based on the project profile, the DPWH allotted P710.97 million for the Las Piñas-Parañaque Link Road, which included a bridge in front of the Villar-owned Golden Haven Memorial Park.

“At least 12 properties owned by Villar’s corporations with an aggregate area of more than two hectares (20,000 square meters) were, as a consequence of the road diversion, bought by the government as roads right of way,” read the complaint.

“Villar exerted undue influence on the Philippine government to allow his office to negotiate in behalf of the government for the purchase of right of way, including properties owned by his corporations, thereby giving him undue advantage.”

Madrigal said Villar’s lots were bought by the government at a “grossly overpriced amount” as a result of the undue advantage of being allowed to negotiate in behalf of the government.

“For instance, a parcel of land owned by Brittany Corp. (a corporation controlled by Villar) was bought for P15,000 per square meter while adjacent property owned by the Plaza family was bought for only P4,000 per square meter,” read the complaint.

Madrigal said Villar allocated his Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel for the purchase of right of way from his own corporations.

“This shows a blatant abuse of power of Villar as then chairman of the finance committee,” read the complaint.

Madrigal said Villar “connived” with Masaito Development Corp. in 2004 to grossly overprice the sale of Masaito’s property to the government in the staggering amount of P30,000 per square meter.

“In the MOA (memorandum of agreement) between Villar’s company (Adelfa Properties, Inc.) and Masaito, it provided that the expropriation proceeds will go directly to Adelfa,” read the complaint.

Villar demanded that the overprice be directly paid to him and had this provision put in writing, she added.

Madrigal said the MOA, the deed of sale and acknowledgment receipt of P25 million by Adelfa would prove her claims.

“Villar as a senator and public official deliberately failed and refused to notify the Senate of the possible conflicts of interest in the projects proposed by him using government funds,” read the complaint.

Madrigal said Villar must be held liable for “deliberately and maliciously” failing and refusing to divest himself of his interests in the corporations that own the properties to be affected and benefited by the project he had proposed.

“In Villar’s case, divestment is necessary because his business is dependent on government largesse and support, thereby creating a massive conflict of interest,” read the complaint.

Madrigal said Villar inserted the additional P200 million in the C-5 Road project, knowing full well that the DPWH already included the first P200 million.

Villar’s Brittany Corp. was paid more than P92 million for right of way even if his properties would stand to gain from the increase in real-estate value because of the road development, she added.

In denying Madrigal’s allegations, Villar said his company donated the property worth P94 million to the government for the public’s benefit.

However, Madrigal said Villar violated laws governing public officials and must be investigated not just by the ethics committee but the Office of the Ombudsman, before which she vowed to file plunder charges against Villar.

Madrigal said Villar violated the Constitution which prohibits any senator from, directly or indirectly, being interested financially in any government contract during his term of office.

Villar did not also notify the House of a potential conflict of interest that might arise from the filing of a proposed legislation, she added.

Madrigal said Villar also violated the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees, which bans public officials from having any financial or material interest in any transaction requiring the approval of their office.

“Section 9 (of the) Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees requires public officials to avoid conflicts of interest at all times and, when a conflict of interest arises, he shall resign from his position and or divest himself of his shareholdings,” read the complaint.

On the floor, Madrigal said she would like to debunk criticisms that she had been making sweeping allegations against Villar without any evidence.

A lot of people who had problems with Villar’s companies were providing her office with various documents to support her complaint before the ethics committee and eventually, the Office of the Ombudsman, she added.