Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Thursday insisted it only allows the request of resource persons to hold executive sessions, or confidential hearings, if they provide legal and factual reasons.“Hindi naman maga-grant ng commission yun kung it is not in accordance with the guidelines. Bina-balanse namin yan: yung right ng tao sa information, at the same time the right of individual persons to due process,” said ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka.That statement comes amid growing public frustration over the alleged lack of transparency of the ICI’s proceedings.Nearly a week has passed since the ICI released its guidelines on the livestreaming of its hearings, yet every lawmaker who has appeared before the investigative body these last several days had requested an executive session.These are lawmakers who were earlier accused by contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya to have received kickbacks from flood control projects, such as Quezon City 1st District Rep. Arjo Atayde, Caloocan City 3rd District Rep. Dean Asistio, Quezon 3rd District Rep. Reynante Arrogancia, and Occidental Mindoro Rep. Leody Tarriela.The same closed-door scenario happened on Thursday, as Quezon City 6th District Rep. Marivic Co-Pilar and Quezon City 5th District Congressman Patrick Michael Vargas faced the ICI.They also did not grant media interviews as they left, opting instead to just release statements later in the day.“Ngayong araw, tinalakay po ang mga proyekto sa Distrito Sais na pinatotohanang walang ghost projects batay sa inspeksyon na ginawa ng DPWH Quezon City Engineering Office at iba pang kinauukulan,” maintained Co-Pilar.Meanwhile, Vargas said he presented documents to the ICI showing that no Discaya projects exist in his district and that there are no ghost projects either.“Ipinakita ko po sa ICI ang mga dokumento at iba pang pagpapatunay na wala pong Discaya projects sa District 5, at wala pong ghost projects sa ating Distrito,” he said.“Nagbigay din po tayo sa ICI na mga impormasyon na sana ay makatulong sa Komisyon sa kanilang mandato,” he added.According to Hosaka, they mainly asked the lawmakers about infrastructure projects in their respective districts.“I cannot share with you the details because these were all in executive sessions. But basically this has something to do with our ongoing investigation on the flood control projects—kung paano ito na-fund, how the budget process is being conducted,” he said.But the Makabayan bloc believes that allowing such executive sessions sets a bad precedent for other personalities that would be invited by the ICI, saying they would all just request the same.Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co argued that the ICI should revise its live streaming guidelines so that resource persons would not have the power to dictate how the hearings take place.“On paper lang ang commitment na may livestreaming na totoo, dahil ano bang inaasahan natin? Gugustuhin ng masasalang na hindi ito ma-livestream, may poprotektahang reputasyon, may kung anumang ayaw sabihin na gagamitin sakanya later on,” asserted Co.Hosaka maintained that their reasons were valid.“They would want to have a fair trial. Ayaw nila ng trial by publicity. They cited sensitive and private information that might be divulged during their testimonies. They manifested that they had fears with regard to how it will be affecting their families,” he said.Hosaka added that there are certain information that, if disclosed at this time, could compromise the ongoing probe.“So that the investigation will proceed without any hitches kasi ang gusto ng commission is makakuha ng maraming ebidensya, maraming information for us to be able to arrive at the truth,” he said.Nevertheless, the ICI stressed that it is prepared and equipped to live stream its hearings any time.It said it is also up to those attending the proceedings if they would also heed the public’s call for greater transparency.

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Thursday insisted it only allows the request of resource persons to hold executive sessions, or confidential hearings, if they provide legal and factual reasons.

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Thursday insisted it only allows the request of resource persons to hold executive sessions, or confidential hearings, if they provide legal and factual reasons.

ICI defends decision to grant executive session requests by resource persons

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ICI defends decision to grant executive session requests by resource persons

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 28, 2025 12:40 AM PHT

Read More:

ICI hearings

executive session

livestreaming

Marivic Co-Pilar

PM Vargas

flood control probe

Makabayan

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