Senate Blue Ribbon to invite Martin, Zaldy

MANILA, Philippines — With several senators complaining of selective investigation, the Senate Blue Ribbon committee will invite former speaker Martin Romualdez and resigned Ako Bicol party-list congressman Zaldy Co to the probe on the flood control mess, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said yesterday.

Since Co is now a civilian, he can be subpoenaed if he ignores the invitation, and ordered arrested for contempt if he snubs the subpoena without a valid justification, Lacson said.

Romualdez will be invited through a letter addressed to Speaker Faustino Dy III, in keeping with inter-parliamentary courtesy.

Lacson, who chairs the Blue Ribbon, said the invitation would be sent to Co’s address. Lacson did not say when the next hearing would be held.

Co has claimed to be abroad for medical treatment. He is believed to be in Europe.

The last time the Senate exercised such authority was in the case of dismissed mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac, who fled abroad but was ordered arrested by the chamber and later brought back to the country from Indonesia.

Lacson said the Blue Ribbon would continue holding hearings “for as long as there are new major developments that it needs to look into.” He promised to pursue the inquiry with impartiality.

“If we stop the probe now, we may reinforce the perception, rightly or wrongly, that we are covering up for someone.

No. I said it clearly, we will go where the evidence leads us,” Lacson said.

“Nobody is being targeted. Neither will anyone be shielded or spared. No matter how unpopular, even painful for me to hear the names of my colleagues being implicated by resource persons, I will not be deterred,” he added.

Lacson’s assurance came after Sen. Francis Escudero delivered an impassioned speech before the Senate plenary on Monday lamenting that senators were being used as “fall guys” in the flood control corruption issue while House members like Romualdez were allegedly being shielded from accountability.

Lacson, meanwhile, shrugged off Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s scathing privilege speech against his handling of the Senate Blue Ribbon flood control corruption probe.

“There is a saying – ‘the loudest one in the room is the weakest,’ ” Lacson wrote on X, in reference to Denzel Washington’s line in the 2007 movie “American Gangster.”

Although he did not mention Marcoleta’s name, Lacson was apparently referring to the neophyte senator.

“He is overly vocal, boastful or aggressive so he can create an image of strength through noise. It is best to ignore and make him stand on an empty platform,” Lacson added.

In his privilege speech delivered during plenary session on Monday, Marcoleta took issue with Lacson’s radio interview criticizing Marcoleta’s conduct during the recent Blue Ribbon hearing.

Senators face charges

Earlier, the Department of Justice (DOJ) listed Escudero, Senators Joel Villanueva, Jinggoy Estrada and former senator Bong Revilla as among those facing criminal complaints in relation to the flood control scandal.

While Co was also recommended by the National Bureau of Investigation for prosecution, no such recommendation was made for Romualdez.

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges against Co and 17 others over alleged anomalies in the P289.5-million road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, in a separate interview, stressed that majority and minority senators are expected to back a contempt order if Co fails to attend, adding that simply resigning does not absolve him of possible liability.

“Stepping down is not enough. What will be enough is thorough investigation. If it warrants prosecution, prosecution… and if it warrants conviction, conviction. That’s what the people are looking for,” Dela Rosa said.

Dy said the House will still help bring Co back to the country even if he has already resigned.

Dy said he would talk to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to discuss possible ways of ensuring Co’s immediate return. He said the House would have suspended or expelled Co if he had not resigned.

He said he was surprised when Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. handed to him Co’s resignation letter on Monday, the deadline the Speaker set for Co to return home.

“Since he resigned, it is now up to the Department of Justice and the ICI what sanctions they can impose on him. He should come back by any means he can. He should be returned and made to face the issues against him,” Dy said.

The third nominee of Ako Bicol party-list, meanwhile, may take over Co’s position, according to the Commission on Elections.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia, however, stressed that the House would need to first declare a vacancy before Co’s replacement can be proclaimed. “We are waiting for the HOR’s letter,” Garcia said. The third nominee of the party-list is Jan Franz Almario Chan.

Palace’s appeal

Malacañang, meanwhile, is also appealing to Co to return to the country and face all the allegations against him.

“Nothing can stop him from making his decisions, but if a case is filed against him, he will not be able to avoid it, he cannot run away from it,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told a press briefing.

She said the DOJ is awaiting response from the Interpol regarding the “blue notice” for Co. A blue notice helps law enforcement agencies track the location and movements of a person of interest but does not authorize arrest.

“I just talked to Asec. Mico Clavano and he said they are waiting for the (Interpol’s) response,” she said, referring to Justice Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano. — Helen Flores, Jose Rodel Clapano, Mayen Jaymalin, Marc Jayson Cayabyab