Senate Pres. Tito Sotto Speaks on Zaldy Co, Leyte Cong. Martin Romualdez
TITO SOTTO – The Senate President explained why former House Speaker Martin Romualdez cannot be issued a subpoena.
Countless Filipinos are undeniably eager to witness the presence of Zaldy Co and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez during a Senate flood probe. The upper chamber continued their investigation on the flood control issue despite the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI.
Previously, when he was still the chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee which leads the investigation, Sen. Ping Lacson confirmed that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Zaldy Co will be invited to the flood probe. His statement came amid the alleged complaints of some senators that the investigation is supposedly selective.
Both Co and Romualdez were mentioned in the testimonies of several resource persons during the flood probes. Then, Lacson stressed that they will follow where the pieces of evidence will go.
However, recently, countless Filipinos were shocked when Sen. Ping Lacson resigned from being the chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee. His resignation was confirmed by Senate Pres. Tito Sotto.
According to Sotto, he received the resignation of Lacson. The Senate Chief claimed that the Senator is ‘frustrated’ over the comments of some of their fellow senators on the flood probe and he understands him ‘to some extent’.
With regards to the expected invitation of Zaldy Co and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to the Senate flood probe, based on a report on GMA News, Senate Pres. Tito Sotto confirmed that they will still be invited. However, he stressed that the Senate cannot issue a subpoena on the Leyte Congressman.
“Si Zaldy Co puwede na talagang imbitahan kaagad ‘yun sapagkat ‘yun ay hindi na congressman. Kung si Congressman Romualdez iimbitahin, kailangan imbitahin. Hindi siya pwedeng i-subpoena dahil meron tayo nung inter-parliamentary courtesy na tinatawag,” he said.
However, amid the flood control mess, Zaldy Co refused to return to the Philippines. House Speaker Bojie Dy revoked his Travel Clearance and ordered him to return to the country but he did not heed the call.
In the case of the presidential cousin, Cong. Martin Romualdez resigned from being the House speaker. According to him, he wants the Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI to fully and freely exercise their mandate without undue influence.