Mark Villar asked to appear before ICI in flood control probe
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure has summoned Sen. Mark Villar to appear before the hearing next week as part of its investigation into the anomalous flood control projects.
In a letter, ICI Chair Andres Reyes requested Villar to attend the hearing on Oct. 7, 9:00 a.m. in Taguig City to "testify under oath to discuss and shed light relative to the planning, budgeting, execution, supervision, and monitoring of flood control and other infrastructure projects" under his term as Department of Public Works and Highways secretary.
Villar served as the DPWH chief from 2016 to 2021, during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
This came after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Wednesday that Villar, his sister, Sen. Camille, and mother, former senator Cynthia Villar, are under investigation over reports linking them to a Las Piñas-based contractor, who is his first cousin, that has secured P18.5 billion worth of government contracts.
The DOJ chief noted that it was a "prohibited interest."
For his part, Villar said he supports the investigation, saying he "has nothing to hide."
"Let me be unequivocal: I have no direct or indirect ownership or controlling interest in any company participating in DPWH projects. The official record will confirm that none of my relatives acquired any contracts from 2016 to 2021, during my tenure as Secretary,” the senator said in a statement.
Flood control mess
The flood control scandal has already sparked leadership changes in both houses of Congress.
Earlier this month, the owners of a construction firm accused nearly 30 House members and DPWH officials of taking cash payments.
The Department of Finance has estimated that the Philippine economy lost up to P118.5 billion from 2023 to 2025 due to corruption in flood control projects. Greenpeace has suggested the number is actually closer to P1.025 trillion.
The controversy involving the government's flood control projects began in July as the rains triggered massive flooding in the metro.
Hearings at the House of Representatives and the Senate revealed billions of pesos lost to corruption, which prompted the formation of the ICI, which will specifically investigate irregularities in flood control projects in the last 10 years.
