Quezon City congressmen Co-Pilar, Vargas face ICI flood control probe

Two more congressional representatives from Quezon City tagged in the flood control projects controversy appeared Thursday before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

Quezon City's 6th District Representative Marivic Co-Pilar and 5th District Representative Patrick Michael "PM" Vargas arrived separately at the ICI office in Taguig City to testify in relation to the alleged kickback scheme in the flood control mess. 

Co-Pilar earlier requested for an executive session, or a closed-door meeting with the panel, as the ICI has started live streaming its hearings. Vargas likewise made a similar request.

Vargas said that he submitted documents to the ICI to prove that the alleged projects by the Discayas do not exist. 

“Ipinakita ko po sa ICI ang mga dokumento at iba pang pagpapatunay na wala pong Discaya projects sa District 5, at wala pong ghost projects sa ating distrito,” he said in a statement. 

(I showed the ICI the documents and other proofs that there are no Discaya projects in District 5, and there are no ghost projects in our District.) 

“Nagbigay din po tayo sa ICI na mga impormasyon na sana ay makatulong sa Komisyon sa kanilang mandato,” he added. 

(We also provided the ICI with information that would hopefully help the Commission in its mandate.) 

Vargas and Co-Pilar are among the House legislators that contractor-couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya named during a Senate hearing in September. 

Both of them have since denied the allegations.

Co-Pilar earlier said she has never spoken to the Discayas and has not authorized anybody to deal with them. Vargas, for his part, has said the Discayas do not have any projects in his district, dismissing their claim as a "blatant lie."

Last Tuesday, Representative Arjo Atayde of Quezon City's 1st District voluntarily appeared before the commission to deny links with anomalous flood control projects.

Other congressmen linked to the flood control mess who have faced the ICI include Caloocan 3rd District Representative Dean Asistio, Quezon 3rd District Representative Reynante Arrogancia, and Occidental Mindoro Representative (lone district) Leody "Ode" Tarriela. — VDV/RF, GMA Integrated News