Zaldy Co faces contempt if he fails to attend Oct. 14 hearing – ICI

Former Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co could be cited in contempt if he fails to appear before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) hearing on the alleged anomalous flood control projects on Tuesday.

ICI executive director Brian Keith Hosaka on Monday said the commission will petition to cite Co in contempt should he fail to attend the October 14 hearings, as required by a subpoena issued against him.

He added that should the court grant the petition, it can issue an arrest warrant against Co who is said to be out of the country. 

“That’s a process, as I mentioned before, there’s no contempt power by the ICI . The process is pupunta kami sa korte. If the court grants the petition,” Hosaka said.

“Right now, the only option that we have is to cite him in contempt but that is going to be a challenge knowing that he is not in the country right now,” Hosaka told reporters.

“There is no contempt powers by the ICI. Ang process is pupunta kami sa korte,” Hosaka added.

(There is no contempt powers by the ICI. We would have to go to the court.)

Last week, the ICI issued a subpoena to Co, requiring him to attend the October 14 hearing and testify regarding his personal knowledge of budget insertions and flood control projects, which he had previously chaired in the House Committee on Appropriations.

The commission also directed him to bring contracts, records, and other documents.

Hosaka, however, said Co has yet to respond to the subpoena. Asked if the contempt charges may trigger an arrest warrant, he answered: “Yes. If the court does grant the application”. 

Co was subpoenaed by the commission last week while former House Speaker Martin Romualdez was likewise invited. Romualdez, in a statement had said, he was willing to face the commission. 

The two were alleged to have been involved in insertions in the budget and accused to have received kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects. 

Co resigned as a member of the House of Representatives, citing "real, direct, grave and imminent threat" to him and his family as well as the "evident denial" of his rights to due process last month. 

The former solon earlier said he plans to return to the country to face the allegations. 

“I have every intention of returning to the Philippines. I am also intent on belying the false claims made against me before the proper forum.  I received no funds in connection with DPWH projects,” he said.

GMA News Online has reached out to his camp for their side on the matter.

Incoming Ombudsman and outgoing Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla previously said Co was possibly in Spain.

Remulla has said that he does not expect Co to return to the country and that his continuous refusal to do so will turn the former lawmaker into a "fugitive" from justice.

The ICI has recommended the possible filing of graft, malversation, and falsification charges with the Ombudsman against Co and other Department of Public Works and Highways officials over their alleged links to the P289.5-million road dike project along the Mag-Asawang Tubig River in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has also recommended the prosecution of Co and other senators with the Department of Justice. — with a report from Joseph Morong/RF, GMA Integrated News