The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) will proceed with the summons issued to former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, even though both have already been named respondents in cases referred by the commission to the Office of the Ombudsman.
In a press conference on Thursday, ICI Chairperson and retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr. clarified that the first four referrals forwarded to the Ombudsman are separate from the “hundreds” of other cases still under review.
Co was among the respondents listed in the first and second referrals submitted on September 29 and October 29, while Bernardo was included in the third and fourth referrals filed on November 4 and 6.
Reyes said the commission had already issued two subpoenas to Co, the second directing him to appear at a hearing scheduled for November 11 and 12.
“Now I’m in public, I’m telling him if he wants to come, he can come to us here, and we will allow him to tell his side of the story,” Reyes said.
He added that Bernardo has also been summoned to attend the ICI hearing on November 12.