Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon – Photo courtesy of Terry Ridon/Facebook
Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon said the failure of 18 former bodyguards of former lawmaker turned fugitive Elizaldy Co to attend Monday’s Senate blue ribbon committee hearing had weakened the credibility of their allegations against several House members.
Ridon said the group, which had been linked to claims involving the supposed delivery of suitcases allegedly containing cash, should have been willing to appear before senators if they were prepared to stand by their statements.
He said their absence from the proceeding raised questions because the proper forum would have allowed them to testify under oath and face questioning from members of the committee.
The 18 men had earlier appeared at a separate blue ribbon hearing led by the group of former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, where they repeated allegations previously contained in a February affidavit.
But the bloc of acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian had questioned the validity of that hearing, citing the earlier declaration that committee posts had been vacated before new officials were installed.
A separate hearing was later held by the committee under Sen. Erwin Tulfo, but the group did not attend and instead stayed at the office of Sen. Robinhood Padilla.
Ridon said the decision to skip the Tulfo-led hearing contradicted the group’s claim of truth-telling and accountability, adding that serious allegations should be repeated before the duly constituted committee and under oath.
He said the House prosecution panel would remain focused on its work related to the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte despite what he described as distractions, fabricated claims, and political sideshows.