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Palace: Duterte has 'full trust' in DPWH chief Villar despite alleged agency corruption

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Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/10/15/20200302-duterte-cabinet-meeting-minb-37.jpg"/><figcaption>President Rodrigo Duterte greets Public Works Secretary Mark Villar prior to the start of the 46th Cabinet Meeting at the Malacañang Palace on March 2, 2020. <em>Simeon Celi, Presidential Photo/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has &quot;full trust and confidence&quot; in Public Works Secretary Mark Villar despite alleged corruption in his agency, Malacañang said Thursday. </p><p>Duterte, in a late night speech on Wednesday, said a portion of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) funds are being used to &quot;give&quot; to certain people, whom he did not identify. </p><p>&quot;Full trust and confidence po [si Presidente] kay Secretary Villar dahil despite the corruption in DPWH, naka-deliver po si Secretary Villar,&quot; Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque told reporters. </p><p>&quot;It helps na mas marami pang pera ang pamilya ni Sec. Villar kaysa sa DPWH,&quot; he said.</p><p>(The President has full trust and confidence in Secretary Villar because despite the corruption in DPWH, Secretary Villar delivered. It helps that his family has more money than the DPWH.)</p><p>Villar&#x27;s billionaire family owns a real estate empire. </p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zhbLyMarQ8k?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>Duterte is committed to curbing corruption at DPWH and state medical insurer PhilHealth, said Roque. </p><p>Asked if the President would order an investigation of DPWH in the same way that he did PhilHealth, Roque said: &quot;Posibleng gawin po iyan pero hayaan na po muna natin iyan dahil sa ngayon po nakatutok pa sa PhilHealth ang Presidente.&quot; </p><p>(That is possible, but let&#x27;s leave that for now because the President is still focused on PhilHealth.)</p><p>Whistleblowers earlier accused PhilHealth officials of pocketing some P15 billion in state funds, and approving overpriced projects and reimbursement to supposedly favored hospitals. </p><p>A task force formed by Duterte earlier recommended charges against former PhilHealth CEO and President Ricardo Morales and other officials. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/09/20/palace-exit-of-philhealth-senior-execs-a-step-in-right-direction">Palace: Exit of PhilHealth senior execs &#x27;a step in right direction&#x27;</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/06/20/palace-open-minded-duterte-is-not-absolving-health-chief-duque">Palace: &#x27;Open-minded&#x27; Duterte is not absolving Health chief Duque</a></li></ul>

<p>President Rodrigo Duterte has "full trust and confidence" in Public Works Secretary Mark Villar despite the alleged corruption in his agency, Malacañang said Thursday. </p>

President Rodrigo Duterte has "full trust and confidence" in Public Works Secretary Mark Villar despite the alleged corruption in his agency, Malacañang said Thursday.

Palace: Duterte has 'full trust' in DPWH chief Villar despite alleged agency corruption

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Palace: Duterte has 'full trust' in DPWH chief Villar despite alleged agency corruption

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 15, 2020 01:50 PM PHT

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