Metro Manila, Philippines – With the arrest of former lawmaker Zaldy Co, one of the alleged masterminds in the flood control corruption scandal, Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Panfilo “Ping” Lacson is eyeing his attendance at the legislative inquiry to face off with witnesses whose claims are “interconnected” with his.
Co was arrested in the Czech Republic on Thursday, April 16, ending a nine-month search for the former House appropriations committee chairman who led proceedings on the controversial 2025 budget. He has since resigned as a congressman.
“Once Co is in the Philippines and the court allows it, I plan to have him attend the hearing along with Guteza and the ex-soldiers so we will find out who is truthful, who is telling half-truths, and who is lying,” Lacson said in a news release on Friday, April 17.
“We can also invite them to separate hearings but I think it would be better if we invite Co along with the ex-soldiers who claimed to deliver P805 billion cash in suitcases. And if possible, we invite Guteza too, so we will know who is telling the truth,” he added.
Orly Guteza was a former Marine who claimed to have served as Co’s aide and delivered suitcases of cash to the residences of then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez, as well as other former soldiers who said they acted as bagmen for kickbacks to several government officials.
He appeared once before the blue ribbon committee but has not resurfaced. Meanwhile, the 18 individuals who confessed as bagmen have only submitted an affidavit, prompting calls to summon them to a Senate hearing.
Lacson said they must first clarify questionable items in their affidavit.
Earlier this week, he suspended the blue ribbon probe while waiting for enough signatures for the partial committee report to be taken up in plenary.
Co himself previously released videos online implicating President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his cousin, Romualdez, as masterminds behind alleged budget insertions and kickbacks – claims both officials have denied.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said these allegations can only be used in an investigation if Co personally appears to affirm them under oath.
Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito said he looks forward to what Co would say.
“That is a very much welcome development so that he may impart knowledge about the biggest corruption scandal ever in Philippine history,” he said in a separate statement.
