Even if the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) said they are prepared and equipped to livestream at any time, they still have to grant requests by resource persons for an executive session.

This was according to ICI Executive Director Brian Keith Hosaka, who maintained that their reasons for granting executive sessions to resource persons were valid.

Hosaka explained that resource persons want to have a fair trial, as they do not want a trial by publicity, citing sensitive and private information that might be divulged during their testimonies.

He said the resource persons manifested that they had fears regarding how it could affect their families.

Hosaka added that there is certain information that, if disclosed at this time, could compromise the ongoing probe.

The ICI wants the investigation to proceed without any hitches, as it aims to gather more evidence and information to arrive at the truth.

It insisted that it only allows the request of resource persons to hold executive sessions, or confidential hearings, if they provide legal and factual reasons.

Hosaka said the commission will not grant requests if they are not in accordance with the guidelines, as they balance the public’s right to information with the right of individual persons to due process.

The clarification comes amid growing public frustration over the alleged lack of transparency in the ICI’s proceedings.

Nearly a week has passed since the ICI released its guidelines on the livestreaming of its hearings, yet every resource person—many of them lawmakers who have appeared before the investigative body—has requested an executive session.

These lawmakers were earlier accused by contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya of receiving kickbacks from flood control projects, including 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 occurred 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 release statements later in the day.

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.

Hosaka said 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—how it was funded, how the budget process is being conducted,” Hosaka said.