00:00For the first time, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI made public its hearing on the alleged anomalous flood control projects.
00:09This also follows calls to livestream the proceedings so the public can watch.
00:13Laguna Rep. Benjamin Agaraw Jr., who was among those named by the Diskaya couple in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, appeared before the commission.
00:21Here, he denied knowing the couple.
00:22Mga lawak po kasi yung magkakilala. Tagapong hindi ko po sila, kasi po pagka po personal kong kakilala, eh kabatihan ko po o naging katropa ko po, naging kaibigan, eh hindi ko po talaga kilala ang Diskaya.
00:39He was also asked during the hearing whether he knew a certain Aldin Mariano who was mentioned by the Diskayas.
00:44According to ICI member Rogelio Singson, it appears that Mariano was the one communicating with the Diskayas.
00:50He was allegedly representing the Legislator.
00:52According to Agaraw, he knows Mariano, who he said is a contractor.
00:56Doon po sa term ko, hindi ko po nakilala si Engineer Alvin Mariano.
01:02Ah, engineer pala siya.
01:04Yung, ay contractor po yan na justice.
01:07Hindi ko po kilala po yan, eh na baka po nitong nakaraan.
01:13No, sumasakali na po sila.
01:14Kilala ko po si Alvin Mariano.
01:16No, contractor po yan na nakapagpapakilala po sa akin.
01:20Agaraw denied that he authorized anyone to represent him.
01:24He said he has no bag man and he also denied receiving 9 million pesos.
01:28During the hearing, Agaraw repeatedly emphasized that he does not interfere with the funds allocated to his district.
01:33Bagatapos po kasi ng tungkulin namin na madinig yung budget at maaprobahan po, kasabay po yung Senate, magkaroon po ng buy camp, maaprobahan na po yung gastusin ng pambansa, eh hindi na po sa amin yun, sa executive na po yun.
01:50Kaya hindi po talaga kami nakikailam doon.
01:52He said he focuses only on projects in his area.
01:55He added that he was not a legislator from 2022 to 2025, which is the alleged period in which he is being implicated.
02:03Agaraw also refused to voluntarily surrender his cell phone to the ICI.
02:07After this, officials from Land Bank of the Philippines also appeared before the ICI hearing.
02:11There, they provided detailed explanations regarding the budget preparation process and the mechanisms for fund allocation.
02:17This included details on the flow of funds from the Department of Budget and Management to the Department of Public Works and Highways and then to contractors handling the flood control projects.
02:26Meanwhile, ACT teachers representative Antonio Tinio urged ICI to investigate the flood control projects in Davao City.
02:32From 2019 to 2022, worth 4.4 billion pesos, which he claimed were allegedly anomalous covering 80 contracts.
02:39Merong double funding, merong mga iba yung location, at saka mas na-exit yung flood control project kesa dun sa inaprubahan, sa budget, so possible overpricing.
02:54Tapos may nakita rin tayo ng mga incomplete pa rin kahit 2020 or 2022 pa inaward.
03:04In addition, the Land Transportation Office also went to the ICI to ask the body to conduct an investigation on the agency's Central Command Center, valued at 946 million pesos.
03:15They brought volumes of documents among the listed contractor of the project, ISANMOS Construction and Development Corporation, owned by former Acubicol representative Saldico.
03:23May mga dapat na kameras na dapat ilagay all over the Philippines, wala po yung mga nangyaring yan, at saka hindi po siya, sa totoo lang, hindi po siya gumagana.
03:34Saka overpricement, overpayment, may overpayment pa po ito na 26 million.
03:38The LTO is continuing its inspection of other buildings that are also allegedly anomalous, of which San Luis Construction and Development Corporation were again the contractor.
03:47Rod Lagused from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
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