Sandro Marcos says ‘nothing to cover’ however his testimony at ICI stays secret

Sandro Marcos says he was giving ICI ‘full authority’ to launch the video of his testimony in the event that they deemed it would not have an effect on the fee’s probe

“I’m not hiding something,” stated Ilocos Norte 1st District Consultant and presidential son Sandro Marcos, recent from an look earlier than the Unbiased Fee for Infrastructure on Thursday, December 4.

However when he confronted the very fee created by his personal father to research multi-billion infrastructure corruption, Marcos requested that his testimony be held behind closed doorways.

His counsel, Michelle Lazaro, defined that the congressman most well-liked an government session as a result of he supposedly wished to talk “as candidly as attainable.” She hinted that “crucial info” is likely to be revealed, particulars that might “jeopardize” the fee’s investigation.

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After all, Sandro isn’t the primary to ask for an government session. For the reason that pointers had been launched, solely two useful resource individuals — Land Financial institution of the Philippines officers and Laguna 4th District Consultant Danny Domingo — have allowed their hearings to be livestreamed. 

The remaining, together with Marcos, selected the personal route. But Marcos stated that he self-invited himself at ICI to clear his title.

Nonetheless, after the hush-hush session, Marcos informed the media that he was giving ICI “full authority” to launch the video of his testimony in the event that they deemed it wouldn’t have an effect on the fee’s probe.

“I’m completely satisfied for them to take action in the event that they imagine that there’s no info there that may jeopardize their investigation,” Marcos stated. 

The media then requested for the video the next week, Tuesday, December 9. However it seems that Marcos and ICI are usually not on the identical web page. 

“Cong. Sandro Marcos declared beneath oath that he was not amenable to livestreaming or public broadcasting of his testimony. Thus, till the Fee receives a written authority from Cong. Marcos permitting the discharge, the fee is constrained from releasing the video recording of his testimony,” ICI Chairperson Andres Reyes stated.

Reyes himself has repeatedly expressed discomfort with livestreaming, a place made clear in considered one of ICI’s uncommon public periods.

So, was Sandro’s supply to launch his testimony merely lip service, simply barely sufficient transparency to sound good?

Is there one thing inside that recording that might truly “jeopardize” the probe? As a result of if there was actually nothing to cover, why push for an government session as an alternative of acquiesce to a livestream?

Below ICI’s livestream pointers, the testimony of different useful resource individuals, earlier than the rules had been launched, also needs to be accessible to the general public.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the ICI Reside Streaming Tips shall retroactively apply to the testimony of witnesses and/or useful resource individuals, who beforehand appeared earlier than the ICI, gave their consent to the audio-visual recording, together with the paperwork, reviews, shows, and proof that they recognized, disclosed, shared, offered and/or submitted in the midst of and as results of their participation within the hearings or proceedings earlier than the ICI and gave their consent to public entry thereto,” Part 5.1 of the rule reads.

Would the video and different related supplies even be accessible to the media and public for scrutiny?

Nicely, there have been a whole lot of questions on ICI’s energy and independence. The Ombudsman stated that ICI’s days are numbered. However now, the President desires Congress to move a invoice that may institutionalize a fee in opposition to corruption. – Rappler.com