Metro Manila, Philippines – Senate Committee on Finance chair Sherwin Gatchalian has urged resigned Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co to return to the Philippines and personally face the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, instead of releasing videos and making allegations from abroad.
Gatchalian made the remark after Co resurfaced online months after going into hiding and accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of ordering the insertion of ₱100 billion worth of flood control projects into the proposed 2025 national budget, allegedly in coordination with Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
“What’s for me is basic. If you have nothing to hide, you have to be here physically in the hearing and face the questions and accusations against you. Hindi yung nagtatago tapos gagawa ka ng video at kung ano-ano ang sinasabi mo. I think the physical is the most important thing na mag-vi-vindicate sa’yo,” Gatchalian said in an ambush interview on Friday, Nov. 14.
[Translation: Not hiding and then making videos and saying all sorts of things. Being physically present is what will vindicate you.]
During the Senate probe, Gatchalian also said Co’s continued absence could no longer be tolerated.
“Hindi ito katanggap-tanggap na gamitin ang dahilan na hindi siya puwedeng dumalo sa ating pagdinig,” he said.
[Translation: It is unacceptable to keep using the excuse that he cannot attend our hearing.]
“I would like to make a conditional motion, chairman, dahil depende pa sa mapag-uusapan ng mga senador kung magkakaroon pa ng isang hearing,” he added.
[Translation: I would like to make a conditional motion, chairman, depending on what the senators discuss regarding whether another hearing will be held.]
“Conditional: kung magkakaroon ng isa pang hearing, mag-i-issue ng subpoena. At kung hindi siya pumunta, ay mag-i-issue na ng contempt,” he said.
[Translation: Conditional: if there is another hearing, a subpoena will be issued. And if he still does not appear, a contempt order will follow.]
Gatchalian also questioned whether the video of Co was authentic, noting the drastic change in his appearance.
“Dapat talagang kilatisin mabuti ang kanyang sinasabi and also the legality ng kanyang mga sinasabi. Nasa abroad siya eh, so hindi natin alam kung legal ba ang kanyang ginagawa, o kaharap ba niya ang mga taga-Embassy.”
[Translation: We really have to scrutinize what he’s saying and the legality of his statements. He is abroad, so we don’t know if what he is doing is even legal, or if embassy officials are with him.]
“If he is firm on his allegations, then pumunta siya dito. Hindi ako papayag na Zoom, that’s a bad precedent because madaling magsinungaling, walang accountability,” Gatchalian said.
[Translation: If he is firm on his allegations, then he should come here. I won’t allow a Zoom appearance — that sets a bad precedent because it is easy to lie and there is no accountability.]
Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair and Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson earlier said Co could not attend the hearings, even via videoconference, as he is undergoing medical evaluation in the United States.
Lacson also questioned Co’s claims, saying that the president could have made the insertions in the NEP version where he had control over allocations.
“He (Co) was not under oath. Pumunta siya dito, mag-take oath siya, sabihin niya statement niya then we prove the value,” Lacson said in an ambush interview.
[Translation: He was not under oath. He should come here, take an oath, say his statement, then we prove the value.]
“I’m not defending the president but why would he insert P100-billion sa bicam samantalang sa NEP kaya niya ‘yun? (If he can do that in the NEP),” he said. “Ba’t sa bicam pa siya mag-papainsert? Hindi naman siya part ng bicam. Assuming na totoong nagpa-insert sa bicam, ba’t niya i-veto?”
[Translation: Why would he ask for insertions in the bicam? He’s not part of the bicam. Assuming that he did ask for insertions in the bicam, why would he veto?]
In 2024, Marcos signed the 2025 national budget but vetoed P26 billion worth of projects under the DPWH.
The 2025 national budget, initially amounting to P6.352 trillion was reduced to P6.326 trillion following the veto of P194 billion worth of line items deemed inconsistent with the administration’s priority programs.
