ICI to invite Mark Villar on questionable infra projects

Metro Manila, Philippines - Sen. Mark Villar, public works chief during the Duterte administration, will be invited to the hearing of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), the body’s executive director said on Wednesday, Oct. 1.

In an interview, ICI executive director and spokesperson Brian Hosaka said Villar’s participation in the inquiry has been discussed by the commissioners.

The lawmaker was Department of Public Works and Highways chief from 2016 to 2021 – where a number of inexistent and incomplete flood control projects were flagged.

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Meanwhile, Hosaka said 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.