Zaldy Co no-show in ICI hearing

Former Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co on Tuesday skipped the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) hearing on the alleged anomalous flood control projects.

Co was among the lawmakers previously who were issued with a subpoena by the ICI together with Senator Mark Villar and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

ICI executive director Brian Keith Hosaka on Monday said the commission will petition to cite Co in contempt should he fail to attend today's hearing. 

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

Asked if the contempt charges may trigger an arrest warrant, he answered: “Yes. If the court does grant the application.”

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 has said he plans to return to the country to face the allegations. 

HINDI PA SUMISIPOT

Ex-Cong. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, hindi pa nagpapakita sa imbestigasyon ng Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI). | via Mao dela Cruz pic.twitter.com/MV5YDUB49f

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) October 14, 2025

'Nothing to hide'

Romualdez, meanwhile, faced the ICI on Tuesday and maintained that he 'has nothing to hide.' 

“I am here to cooperate fully and help uncover the truth. Wala akong itinatago at walang dapat itago (I am not hiding anything and have nothing to hide),” Romualdez said in a statement.

“I’m very glad that I was invited to the ICI to share my personal knowledge on the budget process and of course, any information on the insertions — that was the basis of my invitation,” Romualdez told reporters in an interview.

Romualdez said all resource persons summoned by the ICI, including Co, are "expected to return."

“Any and all resource persons who are invited here, we expect them to return,” he said.

“Sa ngayon, it is about facts and evidence, hindi lang political noise and speculations kaya the ICI commissioners were able to ask me their questions and I was able to answer it,” he also said. 

Romualdez also expressed willingness to release his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) and said he is ready to attend the ICI hearings if he is invited again.

“I’m ready to come back to the commission anytime I am invited,” he added. —Sundy Locus/ VAL, GMA Integrated News