Why is ICI chair Reyes averse to livestreaming hearings?

ICI Chairperson Andres Reyes expresses his displeasure over the livestreamed listening to throughout an trade with Laguna congressman Benjie Agarao

After months of public clamor, the Unbiased Fee for Infrastructure (ICI) lastly livestreamed its listening to for the primary time on Tuesday, December 2.

Final week, 4 members of the Home of Representatives dodged the livestream of their hearings by invoking an government session.

On Tuesday, it turned clear that ICI Chairperson Andres Reyes isn’t precisely a fan of livestreaming their proceedings both. 

Laguna 4th District Consultant Benjie Agarao turned the primary topic of the livestreamed listening to. High flood management contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya had claimed that Agarao extorted cash from the couple, which the lawmaker denied.

In a single trade, Reyes requested Agarao if he can be prepared to give up his telephone information to the fee for investigation. Agarao shortly refused, saying, “Baka po magalit ang asawa ko (My spouse would possibly get mad).”

He defined that he makes use of two telephones — one for Viber communication for work, and one other for private issues.

Reyes stated, in response,“Kaya ayaw namin ng livestreaming naririnig ng mga tao [‘yung] tungkol sa asawa (That’s why we don’t like livestreaming, individuals can hear issues concerning the partner).”

The previous Supreme Courtroom justice later doubled down, half-apologizing, half-venting: “Tinatanong ko lang should you’re prepared to give up the cellphone kasi nga po we’re investigating every part. Pasensiya kayo kung natanong ko ’yung sa asawa ‘nyo. Kaya nga ayoko ng livestreaming talaga.”

(I used to be solely asking should you have been prepared to give up your telephone as a result of we’re investigating every part. My apologies if I requested about your spouse. That is precisely why I actually don’t need livestreaming.)

ICI Commissioner Babes Singson stated in an earlier interview that to assist their investigation, some hearings involving “essential witnesses” must be finished in government session whereas different classes the place “normal data” can be mentioned could be livestreamed.

In an interview with Karen Davila in October, Singson, a former public works secretary, likened the ICI to the police. “Have you ever seen the police conducting an investigation coated by the media?” he stated then in a mixture of English and Filipino. He stated they might not disclose every part to the general public actual time as it’d “spook” the individuals they’re after.

With the upcoming appearances of presidential sons Ilocos Norte 1st District Consultant Sandro Marcos and Davao Metropolis 1st District Consultant Paolo Duterte, all eyes are on the ICI. Will their hearings be livestreamed, or finished in government session? – Rappler.com