The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has cancelled its plan to let former congressman Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co testify online or via Zoom on alleged corruption in flood control projects, cautioning the move could merely give him a platform to spread propaganda without being held accountable.
Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon panel chairman Panfilo “Ping Lacson explained that he withdrew the plan precisely to prevent Co from exploiting the hearings, noting that the online platform would allow him to say anything without the risk of being cited in contempt.
“I didn’t push through with the initial plan to invite him (Co) via Zoom,” Lacson said in a statement on Thursday, Nov. 13.
“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,” he explained.
Nevertheless, he said Co’s camp has informed the Blue Ribbon Committee that the ex-lawmaker is undergoing medication in the United States and is thus unable to attend Friday’s (Nov. 14) hearing.
“Co’s lawyer informed the committee saying Co is in the US, and is undergoing medication. He asked to be excused from tomorrow’s hearing,” Lacson said.
Lacson said his bigger concern now is to recover his voice in time for the Senate’s deliberations on the 2026 budget bill starting Thursday, and the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the anomalous flood control projects on Friday.
“I’ve lost my voice since yesterday after drinking ice cold water with a sore throat last Tuesday night,” he said.
Lacson also debunked the innuendos and “predictions” of Sen. Imee Marcos ahead of the scheduled flood control probe.
Sen. Marcos, a member of the Senate minority bloc, had earlier said she received reports that key witnesses in the flood control project anomalies will recant their testimonies due to threats.
The President’s sister also said she expects that the House lawmakers who will attend the hearing will clear former House speaker Martin Romualdez of any liability in the controversy. (Hannah Torregoza)
