Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Ping Lacson said on Friday that former lawmaker Zaldy Co’s allegations of corruption, made through a video and outside the formal Senate inquiry, carry “no probative value” because they were not issued under oath. Lacson’s remarks were based on Co’s Part 1 video, where the former lawmaker alleged that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and President Bongbong Marcos were involved in a supposed flood-control corruption scheme. A separate Part 2 statement from Co was released earlier today, which came after Lacson had already issued his comments.
Lacson insisted that Co must appear before the committee and take an oath before his claims can be considered evidence, saying, “Pumunta siya rito, mag-take oath siya at sabihin niya yung statement niya at yun ang may probative value.”
The senator also questioned the plausibility of Co’s claim that Marcos Jr. pushed for a ₱100-billion insertion during the bicameral conference committee deliberations on the national budget. He pointed out that the president has full control over the National Expenditure Program (NEP) before it is submitted to Congress, asking why such an insertion would be done at the bicam stage. “Why would he insert 100 billion sa bicam samantalang sa NEP kaya niyang gawin yun? Second, bakit niya vineto? bakit niya in-FLR?” Lacson said. The bicam panel is composed of delegations from the House and Senate that reconcile differences in their respective budget versions.
Lacson confirmed that Co had earlier asked to attend the Senate hearing via Zoom, but the request was denied after Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa raised concerns about allowing a virtual appearance without the witness being under oath. He clarified, however, that the committee would allow a remote sworn testimony if Co appears before a Philippine embassy or consulate. Co has already been formally invite
