00:00The two housed lawmakers from the Quezon City and Caloocan invited to today's ICI inquiry insist there is no smoking gun or solid evidence to prove their culpability in receiving kickbacks from flood control projects in their districts.
00:15But the request for executive sessions during today's hearing raised even more questions despite their emotional pleas.
00:22Our Harley Valbuena has more.
00:24Quezon City 1st District Representative Arjo Atayde was the first to arrive earlier today at the Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI.
00:37In a media interview before attending the ICI hearing, Atayde turned emotional, insisting he will not evade the investigation on anomalous flood control projects.
00:48Atayde also strongly denies allegation that his father, Art Atayde, was receiving kickbacks on flood control scheme in his behalf.
01:13The lawmaker dared the accusers to show evidence first.
01:16Again, it's all hearsay po sir eh kasi until now as I said, baga mas mabuti po, bago po magturo, eh bigay po muna sa ating ebidensyal aban sa akin because until this point, September 8th, they haven't even given out anything against me or my father.
01:30Atayde's hearing was not live streamed as he chose to testify via executive session.
01:36Caloocan City 3rd District Representative Dean Asistio also appeared before the ICI.
01:41The lawmaker said he volunteered to face the ICI to clear his name.
01:47Asistio also chose the executive session so his hearing was also not live streamed.
01:52The ICI explained they found legal and factual basis to grant the request for executive session of the two lawmakers but no further and specific reasons were provided.
02:16Atayde and Asistio were named by contractor couple Sarah and Curly Diskaya as among those allegedly getting kickbacks on flood control projects.
02:28Asistio admitted he once met Curly Diskaya during an awarding ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo last year.
02:34Atayde and Asistio both expressed readiness to return to the ICI should they be needed again on the probe.
02:47Harley Valbena from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
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