Caloocan City 3rd District Rep. Dean Asistio said he asked for an executive session during his appearance before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Tuesday, as he might divulge ‘sensitive information.’
During a chance interview, Asistio was asked why he requested an executive session, which prevents the hearing from being livestreamed.
‘Para po mas maprotektahan dahil baka magkaroon ng judgment by publicity,’ Asistio said.
(To be more protected because there might be judgment by publicity.)
‘At baka meron po tayong mga sensitibong masabi sa ICI na hindi muna kinakailangang lumabas sa publiko para hindi makaabala sa imbestigasyon ng ICI,’ he added.
(And we might have sensitive things to say to ICI that don’t need to be made public yet so as not to interfere with the ICI investigation.)
But Asistio refused to provide further details on the supposed sensitive information.
‘Siguro po sa ibang pagkakataon ko po sasagutin ‘yan,’ he explained.
(Maybe I’ll answer that another time.)
When asked if he would reveal names at the ICI hearing, the lawmaker said, ‘Siguro po. (Maybe.)
The ICI said in a statement that it granted the executive session requests of Asistio and Quezon City 1st District Rep. Juan Carlos ‘Arjo’ Atayde, who also attended a separate commission proceeding on Tuesday, ‘after finding that these had sufficient factual and legal basis, pursuant to the ICI Live Streaming Guidelines, published in the Official Gazette on November 22, 2025.’
The commission added that it requested Asistio to submit additional documents ‘to aid in the ongoing investigation.’ He was given until November 28, 2025, to provide the required materials.
The ICI said it ‘remains committed to conducting its investigation in a manner that upholds the Filipino people’s right to information, ensures due process, adheres to the rule of law, and protects the individual rights of its resource persons.’
On Friday, ICI Executive Director Brian Keith Hosaka said the commission is targeting to livestream all of its proceedings except for the need to have an executive session upon the request of resource persons.
The ICI will grant an executive session request if the information must be kept secret in the interest of national defense or security and if such disclosure will put the life and safety of an individual in danger, among others.
Asistio also denied the accusation that he is involved in the flood control irregularities.
The lawmaker was among the politicians named by contractor Pacifico Discaya in a Senate hearing in September who allegedly solicited money from his firm regarding flood control projects.
In October, the Department of Justice issued an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) against Asistio and several others, upon the request of the ICI.