ICI on Zaldy Co: all referrals backed by evidence

The Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) on Wednesday disputed claims of prejudgment hurled by former lawmaker Zaldy Co, with an official saying that their referrals and investigations were all based on facts and evidence.

In a press conference on Wednesday, lawyer Brian Hosaka, ICI executive director, responded to earlier claims by Co that the Ombudsman had “pre-judged” his case.

“As far as the ICI is concerned, whenever we make our referrals, it is based on our evidence gathering. It’s based on the facts that we’ve accepted or probably discovered. As you’ve seen in our referrals it’s all there,” Hosaka said.

Co had criticized the ICI’s endorsement of graft, malversation, and falsification charges against the former Ako Bicol party-list lawmaker and other officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Hosaka said the ICI’s findings were backed by evidence.

“We are in fact acting on the basis of our investigation, on basis of testimonies, and based on the evidence given to us,” he said.

“We’re just complying our mandate. We recommend and refer to the Office of the Ombudsman and any other prosecutor or agency,” Hosaka added.

He noted that comments or opinions being made regarding the validity of their referrals should be considered a defense of the involved individual, which should be looked into by the Ombudsman or other involved prosecuting body.

“It’s a matter of defense on their part which should probably be considered by the Ombudsman or other office or body,” the ICI official said.

The ICI had previously issued several subpoenas requesting Co’s presence for their probe into anomalous flood control projects nationwide.

Despite this, Co had not appeared, claiming that he had been receiving death threats that led to his resignation from his former post at the House of Representatives.—MCG, GMA Integrated News