ICI holds last flood control hearing for 2025

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Monday held its last hearing on alleged anomalous flood control projects for 2025.

AGAP Party-List Representative Nicanor Briones as well as Budget Acting Secretary Rolando Toledo and other DBM personnel are the resource persons who attended attend the hearing.

Briones requested for an executive session. 

Atty. Winston Ginez, his legal counsel, said his name and integrity have been unduly besmirched by the “baseless and unfounded accusations against him.”

“Considering the investigatory and fact-finding nature of the proceedings of this honorable commission, our client is concerned that the livestreaming of the proceeding of this commission may cause further harm and injury to his reputation,” he said.

“He has no way of controlling how the public will misinterpret or misconstrue the highly sensitive personal information that he may convey,” he added.

Ginez also said that they are asking for an executive session to avoid trial by publicity.

Meanwhile, Briones consented to the distribution of his sworn statement and exhibits to the public.

The ICI granted Briones’ request for an executive session.

In an ambush interview after the hearing, Briones’ camp said he took the opportunity to clear his name and deny the “unfair and unfounded” accusations against him by contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya.

“Nasabi naman po niya lahat na wala siyang kinalaman at wala siyang alam sa lahat ng mga alegasyon sa kanya,” Ginez said.

(He said that he has nothing to do with it and that he doesn’t know anything about the allegations against him.

The lawyer also denied that Briones has any flood control projects.

Ginez said that Briones voluntarily appeared before the commission.

Meanwhile, ICI spokesperson Brian Hosaka previously said that they are eyeing to invite resigned Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.

When asked about Cabral’s attendance, Hosaka said there was no confirmation from Cabral.—AOL, GMA Integrated News