The Senate’s Blue Ribbon Committee is turning up the heat.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson announced that resigned Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez will be invited to the committee’s next hearing on the controversial flood control projects.
Lacson, who chairs the panel, stressed that this move proves the Senate is “not covering up for anyone.”
“For the next hearing, we will send an invitation letter to his (Co’s) address. We know he is abroad and may not show up. If that happens, we will issue a subpoena, then a show-cause order,” Lacson told Net25.
The senator added, “If the show-cause order is not satisfactory, we will cite him in contempt and issue a warrant for his arrest.”
For Romualdez, Lacson said the invitation would be coursed through House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, respecting the tradition of inter-parliamentary courtesy.
Romualdez has repeatedly denied the allegations, dismissing them as “falsehoods.”
GMA News Online has reached out to both Co and Romualdez for their comments.
Co’s Resignation Not Enough
Just a day earlier, Co resigned from Congress after being linked to massive corruption tied to budget “insertions” and questionable flood control projects. He continues to deny the accusations while staying abroad.
The resignation came after the Independent Commission for Infrastructure recommended possible graft, malversation, and falsification charges against him and several Department of Public Works and Highways officials in Oriental Mindoro.
But Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa was firm: resignation doesn’t erase accountability.
“What will be enough is thorough investigation. If it warrants prosecution, then prosecution. If it warrants conviction, then conviction. That’s what the people are looking for,” he said.
Since Co is no longer a congressman, Dela Rosa pointed out that inter-parliamentary courtesy no longer shields him.
“If he refuses to attend, we will push to cite him in contempt,” Dela Rosa warned. “Why can’t he come home if he really wants to face the Blue Ribbon committee?”
