Why is ICI chair Reyes averse to livestreaming hearings?

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ICI Chairperson Andres Reyes expresses his displeasure over the livestreamed hearing during an exchange with Laguna congressman Benjie Agarao

After months of public clamor, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) finally livestreamed its hearing for the first time on Tuesday, December 2.

Last week, four members of the House of Representatives dodged the livestream of their hearings by invoking an executive session.

On Tuesday, it became clear that ICI Chairperson Andres Reyes isn’t exactly a fan of livestreaming their proceedings either. 

Laguna 4th District Representative Benjie Agarao became the first subject of the livestreamed hearing. Top flood control contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya had claimed that Agarao extorted money from the couple, which the lawmaker denied.

In one exchange, Reyes asked Agarao if he would be willing to surrender his phone records to the commission for investigation. Agarao quickly refused, saying, “Baka po magalit ang asawa ko (My wife might get mad).”

He explained that he uses two phones — one for Viber communication for work, and another for personal matters.

Reyes said, in response,“Kaya ayaw namin ng livestreaming naririnig ng mga tao [‘yung] tungkol sa asawa (That’s why we don’t like livestreaming, people can hear things about the spouse).”

The former Supreme Court justice later doubled down, half-apologizing, half-venting: “Tinatanong ko lang if you’re willing to surrender the cellphone kasi nga po we are investigating everything. Pasensiya kayo kung natanong ko ’yung sa asawa ‘nyo. Kaya nga ayoko ng livestreaming talaga.”

(I was only asking if you were willing to surrender your phone because we’re investigating everything. My apologies if I asked about your wife. This is exactly why I really don’t want livestreaming.)

ICI Commissioner Babes Singson said in an earlier interview that to aid their investigation, some hearings involving “critical witnesses” have to be done in executive session while other sessions where “general information” would be discussed can be livestreamed.

In an interview with Karen Davila in October, Singson, a former public works secretary, likened the ICI to the police. “Have you seen the police conducting an investigation covered by the media?” he said then in a mix of English and Filipino. He said they could not disclose everything to the public real time as it might “spook” the people they’re after.

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