Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has decided not to allow former Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co to appear via Zoom in Friday’s Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, saying it could give him a “platform” for propaganda.
“I didn’t push through with the initial plan to invite him via Zoom,” Lacson said Thursday, noting that the move could backfire.
“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 added.
Lacson’s remarks countered Senator Imee Marcos’ claim that Co was a “very important witness” expected to testify online about the multibillion-peso flood control scandal.
Co, who reportedly left the country for medical treatment, has ignored two subpoenas from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) after being linked to questionable budget insertions and ₱10.15 billion in flood control projects allegedly secured by Sunwest Construction and Development Corporation.