Metro Manila, Philippines – The public was not able to watch the inquiry of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on the two lawmakers implicated in the flood control scandal after they cited safety concerns and fear of supposed prejudice on the ongoing probe.
In separate inquiries on Wednesday, Dec. 4, ICI Chairman Andres Reyes approved the requests of Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo and Bulacan 1st district Rep. Danny Domingo for an executive session.
Romulo is among the 17 lawmakers tagged by contractor couple Sarah and Curlee Discaya in the alleged kickback scheme in exchange for government projects. Domingo’s district, meanwhile, has a number of anomalous projects in question.
Romulo, through his counsel, said the lawmaker’s disclosure with the commission may endanger his life if the hearing is livestreamed.
“The livestream of these proceedings your honor could be misused by members of the public to malign the reputation of the good congressman and would create an environment that would not favor an impartial deliberation on the matter at hand,” said Erika Migriño, Romulo’s counsel.
In a chance interview, the Pasig lawmaker also decried the lookout bulletin order against him after he was implicated by the Discayas.
Meanwhile, Domingo, through his counsel, claimed that by livestreaming the inquiries, he may be “unduly prejudiced.”
“Further your honors, the hearings today if livestreamed could cause undue pressure and influence on the pending investigations and pending cases involving the first district engineering office of Bulacan,” said Alex Lopez, Domingo’s counsel.
The ICI first went public with its inquiries on Dec. 2, with Laguna 4th District Rep. Benjie Agarao Jr. and officials of Landbank of the Philippines as resource persons.
Six lawmakers tagged by the Discayas appeared before the commission last week via an executive session.
