LAS Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos today urged the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to file charges against Senator Mark Villar for his alleged failure to account for multi-billion-peso infrastructure projects implemented during his tenure as Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) from 2016 to 2021.
Santos said the ICI should “exercise its full authority to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for the unexplained use of public funds,” citing DPWH data that indicate possible irregularities during Villar’s leadership.
According to DPWH records, contractor couple Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya secured around 700 projects worth ₱37 billion between 2016 and 2022. The couple also obtained 450 flood control projects worth ₱40 billion from 2022 to 2025.
Of the 339 government infrastructure projects in Las Piñas, 13 were awarded to three construction firms owned by the Discaya couple during the same 2022–2025 period.
Villar reportedly failed to address these issues during his appearance before the ICI, where he was escorted out after a heated exchange with commission members.
During the ICI hearing last Tuesday, Villar admitted that one of the contractors with several multi-million-peso projects in Las Piñas is his cousin, former city councilor and defeated mayoralty candidate Carlo Aguilar.
“It’s alarming to learn that one of the contractors with major government projects in Las Piñas happens to be the senator’s own cousin,” Santos said. “This only deepens public suspicion that political influence may have played a role in the awarding of contracts, even after Villar was no longer connected with the DPWH.”
Santos also questioned why ICI members failed to probe the reported ₱18 billion worth of government contracts allegedly awarded to construction firms linked to the senator.
“The ICI members should show no favoritism, even if the witness is a former DPWH secretary or a high-ranking official,” the assistant majority floor leader said. “Those who must be charged should be charged — even if they’re billionaires. Everyone must be held accountable.”
A special report by the Bilyonaryo News Channel revealed that several relatives and close associates of the Villar family—including relatives of the senator’s wife—cornered billions of pesos in government infrastructure projects during Villar’s term as DPWH chief under the Duterte administration from 2016 to 2021.
Santos said it is both “highly suspicious and deeply alarming” that most of these multi-billion projects were awarded in areas tied to the Villar family’s political influence, particularly in Las Piñas and the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon (CALABARZON) region.
In an ambush interview before the ICI hearing, Villar acknowledged knowing Henry Alcantara, former district engineer of Bulacan’s 1st District, describing him as an “organic” employee of the department.
“He’s organic sa Department of Public Works and Highways. He’s been there, a career employee,” Villar said when asked about Alcantara, one of the former DPWH officials linked to the controversy.
However, Santos noted that Villar failed to defend dismissed DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, who was implicated in the flood control controversy. Villar had reportedly recommended Bernardo’s appointment and administered his oath of office in 2019.
Meanwhile, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon continued to expose the wealth amassed by the Discaya couple, who are under investigation for alleged involvement in graft-tainted infrastructure projects.
Dizon sarcastically described the Discayas as “champions” in securing government contracts, noting that their companies had bagged almost ₱78 billion worth of projects since 2016, the start of Villar’s DPWH stint.
The couple were among the first batch of contractors and public works officials charged by the DPWH before the Office of the Ombudsman last month for graft and malversation of public funds.
