Laguna solon denies dealing with Discayas

Laguna Fourth District Rep. Benjamin Agarao Jr. has denied any ties to super contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya during his appearance at the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Tuesday, December 2.

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The lawmaker also vowed that he never accepted any form of “advance commission” from the couple for projects proposed by him. Agarao was the first resource person whose hearing before the ICI was livestreamed.

Pressed on possible links and transactions with the Discayas, a certain “Alvin Mariano,” and district and regional engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Agarao insisted he had no hand in the flood control projects or their bidding procedures in his district.

He argued that Congress is not the implementing agency for infrastructure projects, stressing that lawmakers merely submit budget requests for specific projects or programs to the appropriations committee, while the DPWH carries out the approved projects.

Agarao also added that he was no longer in office during the period when the Discayas alleged he was given a P9-million payment in advance for their firms to secure contracts in his district. The Discayas claimed to have struggled in winning projects in Agarao’s district.