MANILA, Nov. 26 -- The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has the legal basis to grant the resource persons' requests for closed-door sessions, Malacanang said on Wednesday.

"Mas alam nila kung ano ang nagaganap sa hearing nila (They know better what is happening in their hearing)," Palace Press Officer Claire Castro told reporters, when asked if holding executive sessions undermines transparency, as the ICI livestreams all its proceedings.

Castro made the statement after the ICI on Tuesday granted the request of Quezon City 1st District Rep. Juan Carlos "Arjo" Atayde and Caloocan City 3rd District Rep. Dean Asistio for an executive session due to "sensitive and private information which may be divulged during their testimo...