DOJ Mandates Villar Family to Swear Counter-Affidavit Before Prosecutors
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has underscored that the Villar family must swear their counter-affidavit in the presence of prosecutors as part of the ongoing preliminary investigation into complaints against them. According to Justice Spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez, respondents cannot disregard or ignore directives from the prosecution team.
Prosecutor's Directive and Rationale
During a recent preliminary investigation, Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Peter Ong requested that the Villar family members swear their affidavits before the prosecutors, rather than in front of other fiscal officers. Prosecutor Ong also recommended adherence to the scheduled time of 2:00 PM, noting that earlier submissions might be inconvenient due to potential absences from their offices.
He explained that requiring respondents to swear counter-affidavits before prosecutors helps avoid wasting time on verifying whether the documents originated from a notary public or other fiscal authorities. Justice Spokesperson Martinez emphasized the importance of following prosecution orders, as they govern the complaint hearing process.
"Yes, definitely. The cases handled by prosecutors here at the DOJ are under their full control. So if it is a directive by the handling prosecutors, respondents must comply," stated DOJ Spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez.
Complaints and Respondents
The complaints involve Villar Land Holdings Corporation and individuals including Manuel Villar Jr., Cynthia Villar, Cynthia Javarez, Camille Villar, Mark Villar, and others. They face allegations of market manipulation, insider trading, and misleading disclosures, which were filed directly by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with the DOJ.
Potential Consequences and Flexibility
However, Justice Spokesperson Martinez acknowledged that there is no severe liability or significant effect if the Villar family does not personally swear their counter-affidavit at the department. Respondents may request to submit the document early or swear it elsewhere, but the prosecution will determine whether to grant such requests.
The panel of prosecutors has set the next preliminary investigation date for the 20th day of the upcoming month of April.
