Sen. Mark Villar has broken his silence amid the flood control funds scandal involving the government agency he once led, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Villar has been summoned by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to explain the alleged kickback schemes that occurred during his stint as DPWH secretary.
‘I welcome and fully support any investigation into these issues, as I have nothing to hide and believe firmly in accountability and due process,’ Villar said Thursday, October 2, in a statement to the media.
The commission also invited House Speaker Martin Romualdez and resigned congressman Zaldy Co to account for their roles in the scandal.
Villar stressed he had no stake in any DPWH projects, either directly or through family connections. Villar is son to former senators Cynthia Villar and Manny Villar, a property tycoon and in the top three of the Philippines’ wealthiest individuals.
‘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,’ he added.
Villar said he was focused on implementing key reforms in the DPWH. The secretary-turned-senator was former president Rodrigo Duterte’s Public Works chief for nearly the entirety of his term, only resigning to run for senator in 2022.
The senator vowed cooperation with the ICI, saying that his track record would speak for itself.
‘I have full faith that my service record in those years bears witness to this focus and commitment. To build upon that work, I fully support the investigation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure,’ Villar said.
The anomalies in the DPWH have triggered widespread rage. Billions of pesos are suspected to have been lost to graft and corruption.
Several senators have already been implicated in the mess. incumbent senators Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva and Chiz Escudero have all been accused of inserting money into the national budget for later kickbacks.