Manila, Philippines – It has been almost four months since the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) have been established, assigned by the President to investigate flood control projects anomaly from the last 10 years.
On December 2, ICI had its first ever livestreamed hearing with Laguna 4th District Representative Benjamin Agarao gracing the hall as the investigation continues.
During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s flood control inquiry in September, Agarao was among the 18 lawmakers implicated by the Discaya couple, who allegedly demanded kickbacks from projects within their district.
Agarao immediately denied the allegation, affirming that there were no projects under the couple’s companies in his district during his term.
He reiterated this statement on his appearance before the ICI.
He explained that he was not a member of the 19th congress, between 2022 to 2025, as implicated by the Discaya spouses.
He, however, noted that his daughter, Jam Agarao, was the representative of the district during that period.
While he claimed that Jam had no direct transaction with the Discayas, he admitted knowing certain Alvin Mariano, said to be the middleman of their transactions.
He said that he only knew Mariano as a contractor, during the period that he was not a member of the Congress.
Agarao also denied giving Mariano any authorization to represent him in any transaction he allegedly made with the Discayas.—Mia Layaguin, Eurotv News