Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said he is ready to sign the arrest order for former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Go 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 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 when an individual avoids appearing at the committee hearings.
“It is immaterial to me who the Senate has cited in contempt or issued a subpoena to 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 Filipino and English.
“I don’t look at the personality, I look at the work that needs to be done,” he said.
He added that issuing an arrest order is part of the process to ensure that anyone who has to explain something under a congressional inquiry 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 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 in contempt.