President Rodrigo Duterte continues to trust Public Works Secretary Mark Villar despite recent allegations of corruption within his department, Malacañang said Thursday, October 15.
“Full trust and confidence kay Sec. Villar dahil despite the corruption in DPWH naka-deliver po si Sec. Villar. It helps na mas marami pang pera ang pamilya ni Sec. Villar kesa saDPWH,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque during a press briefing.
[The President has full trust and confidence in Sec. Villar because despite of corruption in DPWH. Sec. Villar is able to deliver. It helps that Sec. Villar’s family has more money than the DPWH.]
Roque also floated the possibility of creation of a task force specifically to investigate massive corruption in DPWH, just like what the president did with PhilHealth.A
“Posibleng gawin po ‘yan pero hayaan na po natin ‘yan dahil sa ngayon po e nakatutok pa sa PhilHealth ang ating Presidente (It’s possible but let’s leave it first because the President is still focused on PhilHealth),” he said.
Duterte’s accusations of rampant corruption within the DPWH came after the Congress started its special sessions into the proposed PHP4.5-trillion national budget for 2021.
The DPWH’s proposal is at PHP667 billion, a 52-percent increase from this year’s budget.
