Metro Manila, Philippines – Sen. Mark Villar, public works chief during the Duterte administration, was summoned to the hearing of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), next week, Oct. 7.
The commission said the invitation was sent to Villar on Thursday, Oct. 2.
In his letter, ICI Chairman Andres Reyes asked the lawmaker to shed light on the “planning, budgeting, execution, supervision and monitoring” of flood control and other infrastructure projects when he was Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways.The lawmaker held the Cabinet post in 2016 to 2021 – a period that was hounded as well with inexistent and incomplete flood control projects.
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In a statement on Oct. 2, Villar said he supports the ICI investigation. He said he had “no direct or indirect ownership or controlling interest in any company participating in DPWH projects” as chief of the agency.
“To institutionalize these practices, we will be filing a bill to mandate universal drone monitoring for all major government projects,” Villar said.
Romualdez, Co invited
Meanwhile, ICI executive director Brian Hosaka said on Wednesday, Oct. 1 an invitation has been sent to Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, but the ICI official has yet to confirm whether the lawmaker has received the summons.
The ICI also invited Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, who is still abroad.
Sen. Ping Lacson, who chairs the blue ribbon panel, earlier said Romualdez and Co will be summoned as well in the next Senate inquiry.
Co and Romualdez are among lawmakers tagged in anomalous flood control deals for leading supposed budget insertions and alleged pocketing of multimillion-peso kickbacks. Co stepped down as House member, while Romualdez quit the speakership. Hosaka said the commission will also ask former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo and contractor-couple Sarah and Curlee Discaya to appear again in the hearing. “The commission has more questions to the three,” Hosaka said, noting that hearings will now be held Tuesdays and Wednesdays to scour through the volume of information.Since its establishment in September, the ICI has made one recommendation to the Ombudsman – the filing of criminal charges against Co and other public works officials responsible for a substandard project in Oriental Mindoro.’ ’11’: ’embed’: ‘