Lawmakers on Friday challenged resigned Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co to return to the Philippines and reassert his statements under oath so that his account could be considered credible.
In the House of Representatives, Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima urged Co to come home after the latter released a video wherein he alleged that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had ordered him to make a ₱100 billion insertion.
De Lima said Co leveled serious allegations, which must be sworn to under oath.
Meanwhile, in the Senate, Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian also called on Co to return to the country. The senator said he found it difficult to believe Co’s account, considering he fled the country and is in hiding—and now accuses the President of being the mastermind behind billions in insertions.
Gatchalian said the best thing Co could do is come back, face the Senate inquiries, and here divulge everything he knows about the flood control scandal.
“Para sa’kin, basic, kung ikaw ay walang tinatago ay dapat nandito ka physically. Harapin mo itong mga tanong, pumunta ka dito sa hearing at harapin mo ‘yung mga akusasyon sa’yo. Hindi ‘yung nagtatago ka tapos gagawa ka ng video, tapos ano-ano ‘yung sinasabi mo, no. I think ‘yung physical presence, ‘yan ang pinaka-importante na magvi-vindicate sa’yo,” he told reporters.
The senator added it was difficult reconciling the former lawmaker’s allegations and the President’s actions, after he notably vetoed ₱160 billion in infrastructure projects, reported RH 28 Raymund Dadpaas.
In addition, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said Co’s video statement has no probative value because it was not made under oath. Moreover, he said that if the President wished to make insertions in the national budget, he would most likely do so when devising the National Expenditure Program (NEP).
“As of now, walang probative value kasi hindi naman under oath, e. Wala, narration, kuwento… Ang hirap mag-speculate. Kasi alam ko ‘yung kalakaran pag dating sa mga insertions. I’m not defending the President. Why would he insert ₱100 billion sa bicam, samantalang sa NEP, kaya niyang gawin ‘yun e. Second, bakit niya vineto? At face value, mayroon tayong, sabihin nating ‘common sense,’ only because alam ko ‘yung budgeting process na nagsisimula sa NEP, na ‘yung Presidente, may complete control over what should be inserted in the NEP… Assuming na totoo na nagpa-insert sa bicam, ba’t niya iv-veto?” Lacson said in an interview.
Co cannot be called before the Senate through a Zoom call as he cannot take an oath or be cited in contempt, and may use the Senate probe as a platform to spread propaganda.
“Now, kung pupunta siya sa isang Philippine Embassy, or Philippine Consulate, at doon siya magre-request na mag-Zoom, at under oath, valid ‘yun,” Lacson suggested.
In a video, Co accused Marcos of having instructed him, through Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, to make an insertion of ₱100 billion in projects, allegedly confirmed by Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin.
When Co told former House Speaker Martin Romualdez of Marcos’ order, Romualdez allegedly told him to comply.
