Blue Ribbon committee to invite Zaldy Co, ex-soldiers — Lacson
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson on Friday, April 17, said that fugitive lawmaker Zaldy Co and other personalities may be invited to a future Blue Ribbon Committee hearing about the flood control scam.
The former lawmaker has been captured by Czech officials while trying to cross the border into Germany, according to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Co’s name has consistently been tagged in the flood control mess. The lawmaker is accused of orchestrating a multi-million peso kickback scheme between legislators and Department of Public Works and Highways officials.
Lacson also wants to summon Orly Guteza, a former Marine who said he delivered large bags of cash to Co and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The Blue Ribbon chair has already finished a partial report on the flood control anomalies, but has yet to submit it to the plenary because it lacks signatures.
"Once Co is in the Philippines and the court allows it, I plan to have him attend the hearing along with Guteza and the ex-soldiers so we will find out who is truthful, who is telling half-truths, and who is lying," he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM.
Lacson said that Co has a lot to contribute if he cooperates.
Other personalities Co publicly tagged in the flood control controversy may also be invited, Lacson said. These include former undersecretary Adrian Bersamin and former Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, if Co names them again under oath.
Co also tagged Marcos and Romualdez in the flood control mess. However, Lacson said that they would not be able to invite Marcos due to a separation of powers.
Any invite to Romualdez would have to be coursed through the House of Representatives as an interparliamentary courtesy, as he was still a sitting congressman.
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