The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) issued another invitation to resigned Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, who remains out of the country, to explain his role in the alleged insertions in the 2025 national budget.
The ICI is investigating the alleged corruption in the implementation of flood-control projects involving members of the House of Representatives, the Senate, public works officials, and private contractors.
“We sent a new subpoena to him (Co) addressed to his Pasig residence and the one in Bicol. We’re just awaiting the reports coming from the ones who would serve this, and once we receive this from them, then we will study the matter of what would be the next action or steps of the ICI,” said ICI executive director Brian Keith Hosaka.
Co held the position of chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations during the 19th Congress of the Philippines, a significant role that involved overseeing the legislative process for the national budget.
Despite the allegations, Co maintained his innocence and denied any wrongdoing.
The ICI emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in the budgeting process, asking Co to shed light on his role and provide any relevant documentation or evidence that could clarify his involvement.
Hosaka also denied the statement made by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV claiming that the commission had invited Senator Christopher Lawrence Go.
“The commission has not yet sent an invitation for Senator Bong Go to become a resource person. No plans yet, but we will let you know once the commission decides to invite Senator Bong Go,” he said.
Trillanes alleged that Go refused to appear before the ICI unless accompanied by his colleagues, Senators Imee Marcos and Ronald dela Rosa, “who would serve as his counsel.”
The former senator asked the ICI to summon Go and investigate him along with his father and brother.
He provided the commission a copy of his plunder complaint against Go with the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the P6.9-billion worth of government infrastructure projects awarded to CLTG Builders and Alfrego Builders & Supply, owned by the father and brother of Go, respectively, during periods when Go held positions of influence as aide to former President (Rodrigo) Duterte and later as senator.
Senator Go denied such accusations and described the move of Trillanes as rehashed allegations to tarnish his reputation and distract the public from those truly responsible for corruption.
Meanwhile, former Department of Public Works and Highways undersecretary
Roberto Bernardo is expected to appear at the scheduled November 12 hearing of the ICI.
“Hopefully we are ready with our rules of procedure at that time,” said Hosaka, referring to the guidelines to be implemented by the commission when it starts live-streaming its proceedings.
The ICI is currently formulating the guidelines for its planned live-streaming of hearings in connection with the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in government flood control and infrastructure projects.
The commission is also considering filing petitions for contempt for those invited, but refused to participate in the ongoing investigation.
“We will study that if there’s sufficient basis to go to our remedial measures, which is to file a petition for contempt against them,” said Hosaka.
