Former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co will be invited to attend the next Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the alleged anomalies in flood control projects — possibly through a Zoom meeting, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said on Tuesday. 

Lacson, who is expected to return as chairman of the blue ribbon panel, explained that if Co cannot physically attend the next hearing on Friday, 14 November, at a Philippine embassy, he can affirm his affidavit through a consul on another day.

“We’re extending our invitation to Zaldy Co if he can participate via Zoom,” Lacson told reporters in an ambush interview. 

“Of course, if he’s abroad, as we all know, most probably… his testimony will not be valid unless he is in the premises of the Philippine Embassy in the country where he is,”  he added.

If Co cannot appear at the embassy on the day of the hearing, Lacson explained he may still testify online and later affirm his affidavit before a consul.

“If not, he can testify first, and then after that, he can have his affidavit or his testimony affirmed by a consul where he is,” he said. 

The senator emphasized that he has no direct communication with Co and that the invitation will be sent formally to the former lawmaker’s address.

Lacson also revealed that 17 other congressmen, including Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Rep. Eric Yap, will be invited to the upcoming hearing, which is scheduled for Friday, 14 November.

“After the elections this afternoon, we’ll buckle down to work and send the invitations through the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives — Speaker Martin Romualdez himself, plus the 17 congressmen mentioned by the Discaya couple,” Lacson said.

In September, contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya named several congressmen, their staff, and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as being allegedly involved in corruption linked to the country’s flood control projects.

If reelected as blue ribbon chair, Lacson said the flood control probe — which was suspended for over a month — will resume on 14 November.

“I already talked to the Senate President to request Senator Sherwin Gatchalian to vacate Friday, November 14, to give way to the resumption of the blue ribbon committee hearing,” Lacson noted. 

“All systems go unless Senator Sherwin has pressing matters,” he added.