THE Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has summoned Senator Mark Villar to ‘discuss and shed light’ in relation to its ongoing probe into the anomalous flood control and other infrastructure of the government.
The invitation, dated October 2 and signed by ICI Chair Andres Reyes, was sent to Villar’s office in the Senate.
Villar was asked to testify under oath about the planning, budgeting, supervisions and monitoring of flood control and other infrastructure projects undertaken during his tenure as Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
He served as DPWH chief under the administration of former President Duterte from 2016 to 2021.
The ICI has scheduled Villar’s appearance before the commission on October 7 at its headquarters inside the Department of Energy Compound, in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
The ICI issued the summon a day after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that the justice department will will be looking into the alleged ‘prohibited interest’ of the Villar family in the estimated P18.5 billion infrastructure projects in Las Piñas City.
Remulla said the investigation is necessary following a news report that a close relative of the Villars owns a construction firm that undertook several infrastructure projects, including flood-control projects, in the city.
Aside from Villar, Remulla said the agency will also investigate Senator Camille Villar, who also served as congresswoman of the lone district of Las Piñas in the 19th Congress and former businesswoman Cynthia VIllar, who served as a senator from 2013 to 2025 and congresswoman for the city’s lone district from 2001 to 2010.
At a press briefing yesterday, Remulla disclosed that the camp of Villars has sought a meeting with him but he has yet to respond to the request.
‘There was an effort to set a meeting. But, I have not given my response because I would rather it be done officially,’ he said.