MANILA – The Senate’s probe into the multibillion-peso flood control controversy escalated Friday after two key political figures at the center of the allegations — former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and former Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Co — declined to face the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, prompting sharp criticism from its chair, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson.
Despite being newly summoned for the Nov. 14 hearing, neither Romualdez nor Co appeared. Lacson said House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy informed the committee that invited incumbent and former House members would collectively skip the proceedings.
In his opening statement, Lacson read Dy’s explanation that House members would not participate “in order to avoid any possible prejudice to the ongoing investigation and eventual findings of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), given that the invited members have already submitted themselves to its jurisdiction and proceedings.”
Dy, in a Nov. 12 letter, added that the invitees would “first fulfill their duty to cooperate with the independent investigative body directly tasked by the Executive with this matter” and assured the Senate that “the House remains supportive of all initiatives aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in the conduct of public affairs.”
Lacson also confirmed that Co, who resigned his seat earlier this year, would not attend after his camp cited medical reasons for his stay abroad.
But the committee chair bristled at a written statement from Co’s lawyer, Ruy Alberto Rondain.
“Let me state clearly that this Committee takes strong exception to the statement made by Atty. Rondain, specifically his apprehension, and I quote, ‘I am apprehensive that any statement he (Mr. Zaldy Co) may give before the Committee will, at best, preempt any defense he may set up.’ Our invitation was directed to Mr. Co himself, not to his lawyer,” Lacson stressed.
Several former lawmakers — including San Jose del Monte Mayor Florida “Rida” Robes and ex-representatives Bem Noel, Marvin Rillo, Teodorico Haresco Jr., and Antonieta Eudela — were also invited for the first time to the committee’s seventh public hearing.
The probe gained traction after contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II and walk-in witness Orly Guteza linked Romualdez and Co to alleged commissions from flood control projects, with Guteza earlier claiming he personally delivered bags of cash to their homes.
Discaya has since admitted he had no direct dealings with either lawmaker.
Both Romualdez and Co have repeatedly denied any involvement in the alleged kickback scheme./PN
