Sotto ready to sign arrest order vs. Zaldy Co

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said he is ready to sign the arrest order against former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co once the Blue Ribbon Committee issues one, stressing that it does not matter who is the target of the Senate subpoena or arrest order.

In an ambush interview on Wednesday, Sotto maintained that it is the duty of the Senate President to ensure that the chamber's powers in investigations are exercised, especially if there is an individual who avoids appearing before the committee hearings.

"It is immaterial to me who the Senate has cited in contempt or issued a subpoena as long as it is within the bounds of the power of the Senate, I will sign it, no matter who that person is," Sotto told reporters in a mix of Filipino and English.

"I don't look at the personality. I look at the work that needs to be done," he continued.

He added that issuing an arrest order is part of the process to ensure that anyone who has to explain something under Congressional inquiries in aid of legislation is held accountable.

Co resigned from the House of Representatives in late September after House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III revoked his travel clearance and told him to return to the Philippines to answer allegations linking him to the anomalous flood control projects.

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has issued a new subpoena for Co on 29 October. If he ignores the second subpoena to appear on 11 and 12 November, the three-man body may petition a court to cite him for contempt.

Co was earlier summoned to appear before the ICI on 14 October, along with former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, but the subpoena was not directly served on him.

His testimony is being sought for his alleged role as chair of the House appropriations committee in the 19th Congress and as a cofounder of Sunwest Inc., one of the top 15 contractors that cornered the biggest portion of flood control projects during the Marcos administration.