Romualdez tried to reach out to Zaldy Co on coming home, says Garin

House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin on Thursday said that when Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez was still the Speaker, he had tried to get Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Elizaldy Co to come home.

At the start of the month, Ako Bicol Representative Alfredo Garbin disclosed and the House confirmed that Co is on medical leave in the United States.

"Alam namin noon, noong 19th Congress, lipad nang lipad siya sa [What we were told in the 19th Congress that he would keep flying to] Singapore for some diagnostic tools or some workup. So hindi ako privy doon sa [I was not privy to the] specifics. But what I am definitely sure is the fact that the Speaker was trying to reach out to him to request him and to allow him to mention a timetable kung kailan siya makakauwi [on when he could return]," Garin said in an interview.

The Iloilo congresswoman said a one- to two-week period was given to Co to return to the country, but this did not materialize.

"During the [House Infrastructure Committee hearing], yun din ang nasabi ni Speaker na parating na si Zaldy, at least maliliwanagan yung mga katanungan. Unfortunately, hindi dumating yung araw na yan," Garin said.

(During the InfraComm, this was also what the Speaker said, that Zaldy was arriving and that the questions would be cleared up. Unfortunately, that day has not come.)

"Maski si Speaker, hindi niya masagot [Even the Speaker couldn't say]. That's why he kept on saying, 'I take full responsibility because this happened under my watch'," Garin added.

Navotas City Representative Toby Tiangco has joined the call for Co to return to the country.

On Wednesday, House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos said Co "should come home and face the allegations against him. They are too severe and it's dragging the House in the mud."

Marcos also warned that Co may face an ethics investigation for his continued absence.

"Kung may isang bagay na pinakamakakapagbalik ng tiwala ng tao sa House of Representatives, yun ang number 1. Hindi tayo makakaiwas ng ganyan. Kasi hanggat hindi siya pinauuwi, ang impression ng tao, ang isip ng tao, ay pinoproteksiyunan siya ng House of Representatives, di ba?" Tiangco told reporters in an interview.

(If there is one thing that can bring back the public's faith in the House of Representatives, that is number one. We cannot avoid something like that. Because until he returns, the impression of the public is that he is being protected by the House of Representatives, right?)

"I think the first thing to do is ask him for his medical certificate, di ba? So malaman natin life-threatening ba yung kanyang medical condition. Kung hindi naman life-threatening yung kanyang medical condition, wala namang siyang dahilan para hindi umuwi," Tiangco added.

(So we can know if his medical condition is life-threatening. If it's not life-threatening, there is no reason for him not to come home.)

GMA Integrated News has sought comments from Co, his Ako Bicol colleague Garbin and new House Speaker Faustino Dy III.

Dy said he will issue a statement in due time.

Tiangco: 'End InfraComm'

Tiangco also called for an end to the investigations of the InfraComm, where Tiangco supported a motion to invite Co.

"Sa tingin ko dapat ihinto na 'yan, yung InfraComm. Sinabi na nila you cannot summon a House member. Ang nasa gitna ng kontrobersya is si Congressman Zaldy Co. If you cannot summon him, then ano ibig sabihin noon? Lahat puwede imbestigahan pero hindi puwedeng imbestigahan ang isang congressman. So sa mata ng tao, ang hirap intindihin noon," Tiangco said.

"So lalong makakasama yun sa imahe ng House," he added.

(In my view the InfraComm should end. They said you cannot summon a House member. But the one in the middle of the controversy is Congressman Zaldy Co. If you cannot summon him, then what does that mean? You can investigate everyone but you can't investigate a congressman? In the eyes of the public, that's hard to understand.)

Garin said when Romualdez was still the speaker, he consulted House and party leaders on the issue.

"Noong in-announce na meron nang ICI, it was Speaker Martin Romualdez, the former speaker, who called on the leaders and the political parties at tinanong niya, sa opinion niyo ba kasi meron nang ICI, kailangan pa bang InfraComm? And sabi niya, baka mas magandang hindi na ituloy para hindi maging magulo ang imbestigasyon," Garin said.

(When the Independent Commission on Infrastructure was announced, it was Speaker Martin Romualdez who called on the leaders and the political parties and asked, in your opinion, is the InfraComm still needed because there's already the ICI? He said maybe it would be best to discontinue it so as not to make the investigation confusing.) 

"Whatever documents the InfraCom has generated or whatever affidavits and testaments the InfraCom has generated, this will all be given to the ICI," she added.

When asked Speaker Dy's position on the issue, Garin replied, "Sa pagkaintindi ko naman, nirerespeto niya yung mga naunang meeting at consultation na na-adopt. Nag-usap silang dalawa [Dy at Romualdez]."

(As I understand it, he respects the outcome of the earlier meeting and the consultation that was adopted. The spoke.)

InfraComm Co-chair Representative Terry Ridon, however said, they are preparing for the next hearing.

"There was no previous directive to terminate or suspend proceedings," he said in a Viber message.

"The committee is preparing for the next hearing to continue interpellations on Bulacan and Discaya-linked firms, and introduce new information on the President’s Benguet inspections, particularly on rocknetting projects," he added.

He added that the InfraComm is open to suspending its proceedings once the ICI starts its own investigation and that it is willing to share with the ICI information and documents it has gathered. — BM, GMA Integrated News