Former congressmen linked to bid-rigging also faced the Senate hearing Thursday, denying any involvement in the fiasco.

Former Negros Oriental representative Jerome Paras, his brother former Congressman Jacinto Paras, and former Surigao del Sur Congressman Prospero Pichay all belied allegations of a witness that they were involved in the collusion among contractors to rig bids for World Bank-funded road projects.

The contractors who allegedly colluded with the former lawmakers and First Gentleman Mike Arroyo were among those blacklisted by the World Bank. – report from ANC