Sen. Mark Villar, Discayas to appear before ICI

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

RESOURCE PERSON. Senator Mark Villar (2nd from left) joins the inspection of the North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway Connector Road segment in Manila on Dec. 23, 2022. He will appear before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure on Oct. 7 and 8, 2025 to shed light on his alleged influence on certain projects while he was Department of Public Works and Highways secretary from 2016 to 2021. (PNA file photo)

MANILA – Senator Mark Villar has confirmed his attendance at the continuing investigation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), an official said Monday.

ICI spokesperson Brian Hosaka said aside from Villar, contractor couple Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya and Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya are also scheduled to appear before the body.

“The hearings will be on Tuesday and Wednesday. The ICI continues to organize and address administrative matters together with its continued work on case build up and evidence review,” Hosaka said in a message to the media.

Last Thursday, the ICI formally requested Villar to appear before the body.

ICI Chair Andres Reyes Jr. said Villar would “testify under oath to discuss and shed light relative to the planning, budgeting, execution, supervision, and monitoring of flood control and other infrastructure projects” during his time as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) from 2016 to 2021.

Villar has earlier denied wielding his influence as DPWH secretary in awarding PHP18.5 billion in contracts to a firm owned by his cousin.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla lamented the decision of Senator Panfilo Lacson to withdraw as chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

“Sana di na nya ituloy (I hope he desists), but that is a matter for the Senate as an independent body” Remulla said.