The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will issue show-cause orders against former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co and his supposed former security aide Orly Guteza after both failed to attend Monday’s hearing on anomalous flood control projects.
“The secretariat is directed to show-cause orders to [former] congressman Elizaldy Co and Orly Guteza,” Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson ordered during the resumption of the antigraft panel’s inquiry.
Lacson said the Senate was exercising restraint as it considered its next steps.
“In deference to the latest Supreme Court ruling, show-cause order na muna natin, and if not satisfactory saka na natin i-cite for contempt and eventually mag-issue ng warrant of arrest,” he said.
Co is believed to be in Portugal, while Guteza, who earlier appeared as a surprise witness, has gone missing. Rumors circulated that Guteza was under the custody of the Philippine Marines, but senators said they had no knowledge of his whereabouts.
Co has been at the center of the flood control scandal for allegedly inserting questionable projects while serving as chair of the House appropriations committee. He is already facing an arrest warrant over an anomalous project in Oriental Mindoro.
Guteza previously testified that he personally delivered suitcases of cash to properties allegedly linked to Co and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, claims both politicians have strongly denied.
The committee’s move signals a tightening of accountability measures as the probe into the multibillion-peso flood control controversy continues.