Sen. Ping Lacson Speaks on Ongoing Senate Flood Control Investigation
PING LACSON – The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman confirmed that the Senate will invite Martin Romualdez and Zaldy Co to the flood probe.
The Senate continued its investigation on the flood control issue in the Philippines despite the formation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI. The chamber had a shakeup amid the issue after some senators were linked to the flood control scam. Senator Chiz Escudero was ousted and replaced with now-Senate President Tito Sotto.
Sen. Chiz Escudero was ousted after he admitted to receiving a P30-million campaign donation from a contractor flagged by Pres. Bongbong Marcos. The contractor linked to Escudero claimed that it was allegedly his personal money that he gave to him during the 2022 Elections campaign.
However, recently, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo claimed that Sen. Chiz Escudero allegedly received P160 million kickback from the flood control project. The Senator dismissed the allegations against him. Aside from Escudero, senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva were also linked to the issue and both denied the accusations.
In his response to the latest accusation against him, Sen. Chiz Escudero asked where is former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co in the testimony of Bernardo. According to him, it allegedly seems impossible that the two congressmen are not involved in the issue.
Controversial contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya previously tagged Romualdez and Co to the issue. Former marine Orly Guteza who claimed to be a former staff of Co claimed that he was allegedly part of the team that delivered suitcases filled with money to the two (2) congressmen.
Martin Romualdez resigned from being the House Speaker while Zaldy Co has yet to return to the country amid the flood control corruption accusations against them. Recently, Sen. Ping Lacson who chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee confirmed that they will invite Romualdez and Co to the Senate flood probe.
Based on a report of PhilStar, Sen. Ping Lacson confirmed that the Senate will invite Leyte Cong. Martin Romualdez and Zaldy Co to the Senate flood probe amid the complaints of some senators that the investigation is allegedly “selective”. According to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman, the invitation for the former House Speaker will be sent to House Speaker Bojie Dy to ensure inter-parliamentary courtesy.
In the case of Co, according to Lacson, the invitation to the resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Representative will be sent to his address. Based on the report, the Senator stressed that Co may be issued a subpoena if he ditches the inquiry and ordered arrested for contempt if he will skip the subpoena without a valid reason.
Sen. Ping Lacson stressed that the Senate flood probe will continue “for as long as there are new major developments that it needs to look into”. According to him, they will go where the evidence will lead them.
Amid the flood control mess, Sen. Chiz Escudero claimed that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez is allegedly the person behind the flood control accusations against the senators.