Lane Afable, News Editor
Once its partial committee report on the flood control scandal is formally filed, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee may invite to its next hearing captured former Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co – along with Orly Guteza and the former soldiers who claimed to have delivered P805 billion in alleged kickbacks from anomalous flood projects to various personalities on Co’s orders.
Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon panel Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday that the testimonies of Guteza and the ex-soldiers are “interconnected” with Co.
“Once Co is in the Philippines and the court allows it, I plan to have him attend the hearing along with Guteza and the ex-soldiers so we will find out who is truthful, who is telling half-truths, and who is lying,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.
“We can also invite them to separate hearings but I think it would be better if we invite Co along with the ex-soldiers who claimed to deliver P805 billion cash in suitcases. And if possible, we invite Guteza too, so we will know who is telling the truth,” he said in a separate interview on DZBB radio.
He added Co – who served as chairman of the House appropriations committee – could make a significant contribution to the hearings since he has been described as the architect of the flood control anomalies.
“It would be a major development if he cooperated. He can contribute a lot. He has been described as the architect of the mess, by inserting and allocating funds particularly to the Department of Public Works and Highways,” he said.
Lacson said the panel may invite other personalities such as former Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin and former Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, if Co mentions them in his testimony before the panel.
He said they did not consider Co’s previous statements posted on social media because these were not made under oath or covered by Philippine laws.
“Bersamin and Pangandaman were not mentioned before the Blue Ribbon Committee. If Co testifies before the committee and mentions them, we have a basis to invite them,” he said.
As for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former Speaker Martin Romualdez, Lacson said the President cannot be summoned by the Senate because of the principle of separation of powers, while any invitation to Romualdez should be coursed through the Office of the Speaker as a matter of inter-parliamentary courtesy.
Lacson said the Blue Ribbon Committee will invite Co with leave of court, “since he has a pending warrant of arrest issued by the Sandiganbayan.” He added the Blue Ribbon panel had issued a show-cause order to Co after he skipped its hearing last Jan. 19.
Earlier this week, Lacson said further hearings of the Blue Ribbon Committee are suspended pending his sponsorship of the panel’s partial committee report.
But he maintained he is confident he will get the needed nine signatures for the committee’s partial report to be reported out in plenary where senators can debate upon, amend, and adopt it.
Co, who claimed he had facilitated the delivery of money to top government officials, was arrested in Prague for alleged illegal entry. Philippine authorities are coordinating with Czech counterparts to arrange his return to the Philippines.
