Arjo Atayde denies role in flood control scandal

MANILA, Philippines — Rep. Arjo Atayde (First District, Quezon City) denied the allegations against him over his alleged involvement in the anomalous flood control projects.

In a statement released after his appearance on Tuesday, November 25, Atayde categorically denied the "baseless allegations" linking him to the corruption, saying that he chose to face the Independent Commission (ICI) for Infrastructure because he believes in the truth.

“It is painful to face accusations you know in your heart you did not commit. But it would be even more painful to turn away from the truth. That is why I chose to face the Commission openly and fully,” Atayde said in a statement.

“From the very beginning, I have said, with all honesty, that the allegations linking me to anomalous flood control projects are completely false. Alam ko sa sarili ko, at malinaw sa mga dokumento, na wala akong kinalaman sa anumang katiwalian,” he added.

Atayde, along with Rep. Dean Asistio (Caloocan Third District), filed their counter-affidavit before the commission.

Atayde said that the ICI asked whether his appearance before the commission would be livestreamed. He said, “They asked me before the guidelines of the livestream came out.”

He did not, however, elaborate on why he agreed with a closed-door executive session.

In a message to reporters, ICI spokesperson Brian Hosaka explained that resource persons would have the option to ask for an executive session if “grounded on factual and legal bases.”

“Prior to their scheduled appearance today, both Cong. Asistio and Cong. Atayde requested that their testimonies be taken in executive session due to sensitive and private information which may be divulged during their testimonies,” Hosaka said in a message to reporters.

“Since the live-streaming guidelines were published today and thus already effective, the lawmakers were again asked at the start of their respective testimonies to confirm their earlier request for an executive session, to which both replied in the affirmative,” he added.

Where did the complaint come from? Contractor Pacifico Discaya implicated both Asistio and Atayde in alleged infrastructure project kickbacks during a Senate inquiry held on September 8.

In response, both solons appeared before the ICI to be resource persons.