Senator Risa Hontiveros expressed hope that former Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co will disclose his knowledge regarding the massive flood control projects scam in the government upon his return to the Philippines.
In an exclusive interview with Bombo Radyo Philippines, Hontiveros described Co's cooperation as a major piece in the series of evidence being built by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. She emphasized that his testimony would significantly contribute to the final report of the ongoing hearings and investigation.
Hontiveros expressed confidence that more senators would sign the partial committee report led by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson. She hopes that Co's arrest will encourage other senators to sign the preliminary report, allowing it to be presented to the plenary and shared with the public regarding the alleged anomalies in government flood control projects.
Currently, the partial report has six signatures and needs three more to be brought to the Senate plenary for debate, amendments, and approval to aid deeper investigations by the Senate and government agencies.
However, Lacson previously stated that he would temporarily suspend the Blue Ribbon Committee hearings until the report's signatures are complete.
Senator Imee Marcos, a known critic of Lacson's leadership, earlier said that she and Senator Rodante Marcoleta would not sign the partial report, citing inadequacies in the committee's investigation.
Lacson plans to create a chairman's progress report to be submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice, along with evidence from the hearings, to assist agency investigations. This is also a way to reopen the Blue Ribbon Committee hearings and present the report's contents to the public.
Meanwhile, Lacson intends to invite former Speaker Martin Romualdez once the hearings resume, to face Zaldy Co and 18 former soldiers allegedly involved in delivering money to certain individuals, to determine who is telling the truth.
