Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson underscored the lack of weight in the statements made by former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, saying his allegations cannot be considered credible evidence of widespread corruption in government without proper authentication.
In a statement released on Saturday, November 15, Lacson stressed the need for Co’s claims to undergo formal validation before they can be given probative value.
“Ex-Rep. Zaldy Co needs to have his written affidavit properly authenticated by a consul in the place where he is presently located, then testify under oath before the Blue Ribbon Committee while within the premises of the embassy or consulate in order to make his testimony valid and have probative value,” Lacson said.
He added, “Under such conditions, we will resume the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing and hear his testimony. Otherwise, as I have stated earlier, no matter how many Parts or Episodes his narrations are, they will all remain as such – narrations.”
Lacson currently heads the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, formally known as the Committee on Accountability, Public Officers, and Investigations, which is probing alleged irregularities in flood control projects where Co has been implicated.
According to Lacson, the committee had sent an invitation to Co to attend the November 14 hearing through video conferencing.
However, Co did not participate and instead released a video statement on his Facebook page, where he claimed the involvement of former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in alleged budget insertions.