ICI eyeing possible filing of indirect contempt case vs. Zaldy Co

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Monday said it is now looking into the possible filing of an indirect contempt case against former lawmaker Zaldy Co after two subpoenas of the commission went unanswered.

ICI spokesperson Brian Hosaka said the commission has issued a total of two subpoenas to the former representative.

“Mukhang [It looks like] there’s a return already that it was not accepted,” he said in a briefing.

 “The legal team will now look into the possibility of filing any petition before the regional trial court for indirect contempt,” he added.

Co, who is being investigated due to alleged links into anomalous flood control projects, has yet to return to the Philippines, citing fears for his safety.

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

‘With a grain of salt’

Meanwhile, over the weekend, Co released a series of videos accusing President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez of being behind the corruption.

“We’re taking it with a grain of salt, kasi nga hindi nga siya verified [because his claims have not been verified]. We just have to take it at that,” Hosaka said.

In his first video, Co claimed that Marcos orchestrated P100 billion in “fund insertions” in the proposed 2025 national budget.

On Saturday, in his second video, Co alleged that he, his staff, and his security personnel personally delivered suitcases of cash to the two officials. He further claimed the President received 25% of the P100 billion as kickbacks.

Co also accused Marcos and Romualdez of receiving up to P56 billion in kickbacks from flood control projects on Sunday.

According to Hosaka, the ICI is looking into the allegations.

“Tinitignan ng commission if this is verified information or ito ay acceptable evidence as far as we are concerned,” Hosaka said. 

(The commission is checking if this is verified information or if it is acceptable evidence as far as we are concerned.)

“Malaking bagay sana kung ito ay ginawa under oath para mapatunayan talaga na ang sinasabi sa ano mang statement o sa ano mang video ay katotohanan talaga,” he added.

(It would have been a big thing if this were done under oath so that it could truly be proven that whatever is stated in any statement or in any video is indeed the truth.)

He called on anyone who has information to personally visit the ICI to testify under oath.

“Para talagang matibay ang ebidensyang makukuha ng commission para ito ay mabigay or maisama sa aming mga referrals at… ma isubmit sa Office of the Ombudsman,” he said.

(So that the evidence gathered by the commission will truly be solid, so it can be included in our referrals and… submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman.) — BM, GMA Integrated News