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December 2, 2025 | 3:02pm
MANILA, Philippines — Rep. Benjamin Agarao Jr. (Laguna, 4th District) told the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Tuesday, December 2, that he had no ties to super contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya and never accepted any form of "advance commission" from the couple.
The congressman was the first resource person whose hearing before the ICI was livestreamed on Tuesday, December 2.
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.
He only rejoined Congress after winning in the 2025 midterm polls. In 2022, having completed three consecutive terms, he was term-limited and replaced in the 19th Congress by his daughter, former Rep. Jam Agarao.
"Wala po ako maipapangakong proyekto, hindi po ako congressman nung panahon na 'yan. Nagulat nga po ako, unang una, hindi ko po talaga personal na kilala o kaibigan ang magasawang Discaya," he told the ICI.
(I had no projects to promise because I wasn’t a congressman at that time. I was even surprised. First of all, I do not personally know the Discaya couple, nor are we friends.)
Asked what he meant by not knowing them "personally," the Laguna district representative struggled to explain, saying that by "personally" he meant those he considered friends. He added that he does not recall meeting them at all.
As to Mariano, he said he only encountered him at some point between 2022 and 2025. While he said he knew Mariano as an engineer and contractor, he admitted he does not know the company he works for and cannot clearly recall any of their meetings.
Mariano was among the names the Discayas cited during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, allegedly as Agarao’s representative in receiving advance payments.
Agarao also shared how he was familiar with some DPWH engineers in his district and had spoken with them before, but denied ever discussing bidding procedures or directing contractors for commissions.
ICI Chairman Andres Reyes Jr. then asked Agarao if he would allow the commission to access his phone records to verify whether he had exchanged text messages with the Discayas or Mariano. The congressman declined, saying he was concerned his wife might be upset if she discovered certain details on his phone.
Agarao said he does not even understand why the Discayas would implicate him or what motive they could have, since he claims he does not have enough power to influence the bidding process.
The commission questioned Agarao on his apparent lack of awareness of his district’s budget, which surged by around P800 million under the General Appropriations Act. Agarao said he only requested P120 to P150 million for mostly local projects and did not know who inserted the additional funds, adding that the DPWH handles project requests.
Defending himself, Agarao said he raised the sudden increase to P1.2 billion in Congress, but only to point out that it was still insufficient for Laguna's 4th District.
His statements appeared inconsistent, prompting ICI Commissioner Rogelio Singson to list flood control projects in the district — contradicting Agarao’s claim that constituents mostly requested covered courts. Singson found 10 flood control projects alone worth P700 million in Agarao's district.
"Pakiusap lang, pakialaman niyo na po (Please, just start knowing more about it)," Singson said.
Agarao has seven working days to inform the ICI of the status of the flood control projects in his district, including their contractors.
