Lacson: Zaldy Co, Orly Guteza may face contempt raps

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said Monday that resource persons who were issued show cause orders by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee—and who still fail to attend the flood control hearings—may be cited in contempt.

Lacson, who chairs the committee, confirmed that former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co and supposed flood control anomaly “whistleblower” Orly Guteza may be among those who could face contempt proceedings in the Senate.

“Well, ripe for contempt… Pero kailangan magkaroon ng hearing to formally cite them in contempt of the committee,” Lacson said in an ambush interview.

Last week, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee issued show cause orders to Co, Guteza, and the following individuals after they failed to attend the resumption of the flood control hearing on January 19:

• Commission on Audit Commissioner Mario Lipana
• John Paul Estrada
• Mark Tecsay
• Virgilio Eduarte

Lacson said the schedule for the next flood control hearing has yet to be set, but noted that two to three more hearings may still be conducted.

“Pero halos tapos na ’yung partial committee report namin. Ira-route na namin ’yan for signatures,” he said.

(Our partial committee report is almost finished. We will now route it for signatures.)—MCG, GMA Integrated News