The Senate Blue Ribbon committee has withdrawn its invitation for former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co to attend its next hearing on alleged anomalous flood control projects via video conference, with committee chairman Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson citing concerns that Co might use the virtual appearance for “propaganda purposes.”
Lacson, who recently assumed the committee chairmanship, reversed an earlier plan to allow Co to attend the investigation remotely.
“I didn’t push through with the initial plan to invite him via Zoom,” Lacson said. “On second thought, the hearing might afford him a platform to say anything he wants even with no probative value and worse, for propaganda purposes only without any accountability for at least possible contempt citation.”
The announcement follows claims by Senator Imee Marcos that Co was expected to appear virtually at the November 14 blue ribbon hearing. Marcos had expressed skepticism regarding the upcoming proceedings, saying that Co was set to appear after an earlier expected “VIP” witness—alleged to be former House Speaker Martin Romualdez—was no longer attending.
Both Co and Romualdez have consistently denied allegations of involvement in the flood control scandal currently being investigated by the Senate.
