Metro Manila, Philippines – Two lawmakers accused of receiving kickbacks from flood control deals faced the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Tuesday, Nov. 25, in a closed-door session where they denied accusations of involvement in the flood control mess.
In a chance interview, Quezon City 1st district Rep. Arjo Atayde said the ICI asked for his options in livestreaming the inquiry, while Caloocan City 3rd district Rep. Dean Asistio cited sensitive information that he might disclose such as names of personalities.
“Para mas ma-protektahan dahil baka magkaroon po ng judgment by publicity,” Asistio said.
[Translation: So we can be protected because there may be judgment by publicity.]
The two were named by contractor-couple Sarah and Curlee Discaya in a Senate inquiry for pocketing funds in exchange for government projects.
In a press statement, the ICI said it granted the closed-door request on factual and legal grounds.
Under the ICI livestreaming guidelines, the commission said apart from factual and legal grounds, the executive session may be allowed if it is “not intended to delay or frustrate the mandate of the ICI.”
In an advisory, Quezon 3rd District Rep. Reynan Arrogancia and Occidental Mindoro Rep. Leody Tarriela, also accused by the Discayas, requested a closed-door session as well.
The ICI said it requested more documents from Asistio and Atayde for submission on Nov. 28 and Dec. 2, respectively.
This marked the first inquiry in a month after resource persons either requested for a reset or completely snubbed the scheduled hearing.
‘Fight for my innocence’
Meanwhile, both lawmakers denied the allegations.
Atayde said the accusations against him and his father Art Atayde — also implicated by Discaya — were hearsay without evidence.
“Wala po kaming tinatago. Hindi ako magtatago. Hindi ako iiwas. Hindi ako lilipad ng ibang bansa. I am here to thoroughly go through the investigation to fight for my innocence,” the actor-turned-politician said, while taking a deep sigh.
[Translation: We are not hiding anything. I will not hide. I will not evade. I will not fly to another country. I am here to fully undergo the investigation to fight for my innocence.]
In another statement, Atayde said he has “zero authority over DPWH procurement, contractor selection, project implementation, or payment releases,” adding that all projects in his district were implemented.
NewsWatch Plus has reached out to the DPWH to verify the claim.
Meanwhile, Asistio said he met Curlee once at an armed forces ceremony in November 2024, where the contractor was the award presenter.
“Nag-meet po kami once lang. Tapos parang pinakilala lang po ako at iyon na po iyon,” he said, adding that the allegations against him are baseless.
[Translation: We met once. We were introduced to each other but never spoke to each other again.]
The Department of Justice earlier placed Atayde and Asistio on a lookout order with other lawmakers and public works officials.
