Livestream? Congressmen face ICI behind closed doors

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) granted separate closed-door hearings for Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo and Bulacan 1st District Rep. Danny Domingo yesterday, ostensibly due to safety and reputational concerns.

- EJ Macababbad

The livestreams of both hearings lasted less than five minutes each as ICI chair Andres Reyes Jr. approved the executive session without question.

Romulo voluntarily appeared before the ICI, even though he was not scheduled for a hearing this week, to "clarify" his inclusion in the immigration lookout bulletin order request that the commission made in October.

"When an ILBO was issued, which is a mere notice, social media depicted us to be a suspect and a bad person," Romulo told reporters after his hearing.

"Sometimes it's difficult to correct your reputation when people think you're banned from traveling. I guess this is the consequence of technology," the Pasig lawmaker added.

Romulo is one of 17 incumbent and former lawmakers who allegedly asked for kickbacks from contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya.

At the most recent Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing, Curlee identified Romulo as one of eight personalities included in the couple's payoff ledger.