Former Rep. Elizaldy Co will no longer be allowed to testify via Zoom at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on alleged corruption in flood control projects, Senate President and committee chair Panfilo “Ping” Lacson announced Thursday.
Lacson said he reconsidered the idea after realizing that a virtual appearance could open the door for Co to make statements “with no probative value” — or worse, use the hearing as “a propaganda platform” without facing possible contempt.
“I didn’t push through with the initial plan,” Lacson said. “He may just say anything he wants without accountability.”
Co’s camp earlier informed the committee that he is currently in the United States undergoing medical treatment and asked to be excused from Friday’s hearing.
Despite the political noise surrounding the inquiry, Lacson said his immediate concern is recovering his voice in time for the Senate’s budget debates and the Blue Ribbon hearing. The Senate President lost his voice after drinking ice-cold water while nursing a sore throat earlier in the week.
He brushed off insinuations and “crystal ball predictions” from Sen. Imee Marcos about where the investigation is heading.
“My bigger concern is how to recover my normal voice for the hearings,” he quipped.
The Senate is set to begin deliberations on the 2026 national budget Thursday afternoon, where Lacson — a known budget watchdog — is expected to be active. He will also lead Friday’s continuation of the flood-control corruption probe, emphasizing that he will remain impartial and evidence-driven as Blue Ribbon chair.| – Rex Garcia
