Zaldy Co to be invited in Blue Ribbon hearing once in PH –Lacson

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will invite former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co to a hearing on the flood control controversy once he is brought back to the Philippines following his arrest in the Czech Republic, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said Friday. 

Lacson, chairman of the committee, explained that they would have to secure a leave of court to invite Co to the hearing, considering he has a pending warrant of arrest issued by the Sandiganbayan. 

“Moving forward, kapag nandito na siya...at first opportunity, iimbitahan siya ng Blue Ribbon Committee dahil nung January, pinadalhan namin siya, along with Orly Guteza, ng show cause order kasi nung in-invite namin sila, hindi sila nakadalo,” Lacson said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(Moving forward, once he is here...at the first opportunity, the Blue Ribbon Committee will invite him because in January, we sent him, along with Orly Guteza, a show cause order because when we initially invited them, they weren’t able to attend.) 

“Since then, wala pang nagiging action kasi nga wala siya rito. Pero ngayon, magkakaroon tayo ng opportunity na maimbitahan siya but of course, with leave of court. Kasi ang legal custody niya mapupunta sa Sandiganbayan once na ma-deport siya rito sa atin,” he added. 

(Since then, no action had been taken because he was not here. But now, we will have the opportunity to invite him again, of course, with leave of court. Because his legal custody will go to the Sandiganbayan once he gets deported back to us.) 

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday night announced the arrest in Prague of Co—one of the key figures in the massive corruption that affected flood control projects in the country.

The Philippine government is now exploring legal and diplomatic steps to secure Co’s return, according to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla. The country is pursuing two possible tracks: the issuance of an Interpol red notice, and coordination with the Prague government for deportation.

Partial report 

Regardless, Lacson maintained that he will await the partial report on the flood control mess to be submitted and sponsored on the floor before he resumes the hearings. 

He said it would also be better to hold a hearing where Co, Guteza, and the alleged former Marines are all present so they could air their respective side. 

“Mas maganda, sa tingin ko ha, na magkasabay na sa pagdinig ‘yung mga ex-soldiers na nagsabing nag-deliver ng male-maleta na P805 billion, saka si Zaldy Co, and kung possible, pati si Orly Guteza… Kasi connected kay Zaldy Co ‘yung testimonya nung mga ex-soldiers at saka itong si [Guteza]. Para magkaalaman na kung ano talaga ang totoo,” Lacson said. 

(I think it would be better if the ex-soldiers who said they delivered the P805 billion of cash in suitcases, Zaldy Co, and if possible, Orly Guteza would come together in the hearing so we can unearth the truth. Because the testimony of the ex-soldiers and Guteza is connected to Zaldy Co.) 

So far, the partial report on the flood control controversy has gathered six signatures from the following senators: Lacson, Erwin Tulfo, Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan, and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. —AOL, GMA News