Alyansa backs probe on PrimeWater, says Camille Villar still part of admin slate

Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas said Friday that Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar is still part of the administration's alliance for Eleksyon 2025 but it supports President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr.'s directive to investigate PrimeWater.

The Villar Family owns PrimeWater, which has been at the receiving end of numerous complaints due to its supposed poor services.

In a press statement, Alyansa campaign manager Toby Tiangco said, ''Any inquiry must be guided by facts and focused on ensuring providers meet their obligations to the people."

''As for Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar, whose family owns PrimeWater, she is still part of Alyansa. We respect her track record in public service and trust that she, like all our candidates, supports efforts that promote transparency, accountability and the public good,'' he added.

Tiangco also said the Alyansa is backing the probe, noting that ''public concerns over water service—whether involving a local utility or a private provider like PrimeWater—deserve to be addressed through proper and transparent channels.''

''Clean and reliable water is a basic need, and any service issues must be reviewed fairly and with urgency,'' Tiangco said.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said the Marcos administration does not tolerate insufficiency of services, noting that the needs of the public must always be provided.

In a press conference, the Alyansa senatorial candidates also voiced their sentiments on the issue. 

Former Senator Panfilo ''Ping'' Lacson said it was only proper to investigate the matter. 

''Kasi alam mo, water maski public utility man ‘yan o private concessionaire I think responsibilidad pa rin ng gobyerno na maging transparent ang kanilang gagawin na pag-resolba nung issue,'' Lacson said during a briefing.

''Dito mismo sa Lucena nakausap namin ‘yong mga mayors  kaya mismong ‘yong congressman dito problema din nila ‘yong tubig na ang concessionaire nga ‘yong PrimeWater,'' he added. 

(Whether it's a public utility or a private concessionaire, it is the government's responsibility to be transparent in resolving the issue. Even here in Lucena, we have talked to the mayors and the congressman here, and there is also a problem with water and PrimeWater is also their concessionaire.)

Former Senate President Vicente Sotto III said ''any issue or controversy that concerns the basic needs of the people should be addressed right away.''

''Whether it involves a politician or not or whatever, or whoever is involved as long as it’s the basic need of the people. Therefore the government should address it right away,'' Sotto said. 

ACT-CIS party-list Representative Erwin Tulfo and former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos both said it is just right for the President to listen to the concerns of the people.

GMA Integrated News has reached out to PrimeWater for comment, but it has yet to reply as of posting time.

Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte claimed that the probe was being done by Malacañang to politically persecute senatorial candidate Camille Villar after her endorsement.

“Malamang, dahil lahat naman ng galawan ngayon ng administrasyon ay dahil sa politika… Wala na akong nakita na ginawa ng administrasyon na ito para sa kapayapaan at kaunlaran ng ating bayan, kundi lahat ay pag-atake lamang sa politika at sa mga taong hindi nila kayang takutin at hindi nila kayang bilhin,” Duterte said.

(This is likely, since all the actions done by the current administration have to do with politics… I have not seen this administration do anything for peace and the development of our country, but only to politically attack the people they know they couldn’t scare off and buy.)

Malacañang has yet to respond to the Vice President’s claims but had earlier clarified that their trust in Villar as a candidate depends on her performance. —VAL, GMA Integrated News