Senator Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, has cast doubt on the testimony of former Representative Zaldy Co regarding alleged budget insertions worth about ₱100 billion. Lacson stated that since Co’s statements were made outside of an oath and formal hearing setting, they currently “have no probative value.”
Lacson also indicated that Co will not be allowed to testify via Zoom, noting that a virtual appearance might give Co a platform to make claims without facing accountability or the risk of contempt citations.
While Lacson emphasized that the investigation into flood‑control project anomalies will proceed with a “blindfold mentality”—relying solely on verifiable evidence rather than rumors or media hype—he made clear that Co’s video‑released statements, for now, don’t meet the standard for formal Congressional scrutiny.