House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III said resigned Ako Bicol Party-list congressman Zaldy Co can be given protection to ensure his safety while he delivers his testimony, stressing that Co must prove his convictions in his video exposés by returning to the Philippines and submitting himself to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
Dy dismissed any supposed value in Co’s recent Facebook video uploads regarding the controversy on anomalous flood control and infrastructure projects.
“Hindi sapat ang video mula sa ibang bansa. Kapag mabigat ang paratang, dapat mas mabigat din ang paninindigan. Kailangan niyang humarap, manumpa, at magharap ng ebidensiya sa mga awtoridad tulad ng ICI,” Dy said in a statement Tuesday, Nov. 18.
“At kung kinakailangan siyang bigyan ng proteksiyon, makikipag-ugnayan po tayo sa mga kaukulang ahensiya upang matiyak ang kanyang kaligtasan habang siya ay nagbibigay ng testimonya,” added the Isabela 6th district representative.
Co, a former chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, has been abroad even before the start of the current 20th Congress. He is believed to be a key personality in the twin issues of budget insertions and anomalous flood mitigation projects.
In a series of video messages over the weekend, Co claimed that President Marcos sought P100 billion worth of project insertions in the 2025 national budget, particularly during the Bicameral Conference Committee hearings.
From this massive insertion, the Chief Executive allegedly received 25 percent or P25 billion in kickbacks.
The ex-solon also claimed that his life was in danger, and that the entire Marcos administration wanted to “silence” him.
Since taking the post as Speaker last Sept. 17, Dy has shown his full backing of the ICI’s mandate.
“Lahat ng kongresistang may kailangang ipaliwanag ay kusang-loob na humarap at nakipagtulungan sa ICI. They are all willing to cooperate and work with the ICI to explain their side. Hindi po ito ginawa ni dating Rep. Co,” he said.
“Ito ang malinaw na pagkakaiba: habang ang iba ay harapang nagbigay-linaw, si dating Rep. Co ay umiwas. Sa halip na makatulong sa paglilinaw, mas lalo niyang dinaragdagan ang pagkalito ng publiko,” he added.
“Sa ating mga kababayan: nauunawaan ko ang pangamba at pagod na dulot ng magulong impormasyon. Naiintindihan namin kayo. Ang hinihingi lamang ninyo ay katotohanan—at iyon din ang hinihingi namin.”
“Kaya ito po ang aking panawagan kay dating Rep. Co: Umuwi po kayo at harapin ninyo ang taumbayan,” the Speaker said. (Ellson Quismorio)
