Mark Villar is ‘above corruption,’ Palace says of DPWH chief

Malacañang once again vouched for the integrity of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered an investigation into the alleged corruption in the agency.

Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Palace spokesperson Harry Roque affirmed the President and the Cabinet’s continued trust in the DPWH chief, a son of billionaire businessman and former lawmaker Manny Villar and incumbent Senator Cynthia Villar.

“Kung ganito kayaman naman kasi iyong Secretary at alam natin na very well educated, educated in the best universities in the world and mayroon ding untainted record as a public servant, having served as congressman also of Las Piñas eh talaga naman pong he is beyond doubt,” Roque said.

“And he’s certainly above corruption in DPWH.”

Roque was reacting to a question on whether Villar would still be covered by the investigation to be conducted by the Department of Justice-led task force, which according to the President on Monday night should also look into the alleged anomalies in other agencies.

“He [Duterte] wants it done yesterday which means it has to be done at the soonest time possible. He wants to see them behind bars para magsilbi pong halimbawa na mabawasan nga ang korapsiyon diyan sa mga ahensiya gaya ng DPWH, Customs at iba pa,” he said.

Roque said the President ordered the wide-ranging probe because he wants to leave a good legacy for his anti-corruption campaign.

Duterte also pointed to the Villar family's considerable wealth in declaring that the Public Works Secretary is above corruption.

“Si Villar, mayaman. Maraming pera. Hindi niya kailangang mangurakot. Ang problema, sa baba. Malakas pa rin hanggang ngayon. Sa mga projects sa baba, ‘yon ang laro diyan,” he said in a briefing last week.

Duterte won the presidential election in 2016 on a campaign platform to rid the country of illegal drugs, criminality and corruption within months of his taking office. — BM, GMA News