Zaldy Co disinvited to Senate Blue Ribbon hearing

Resigned Ako Bicol party-list congressman Zaldy Co is no longer invited to join the resumption of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee flood control investigation if he will only be attending virtually.

- By MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

Committee chair Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said he would no longer invite Co to participate by Zoom because this would accord the disgraced lawmaker - currently abroad amid ongoing investigations on his role in the corruption scandal - a chance to avoid a contempt citation.

"I didn't push through with the initial plan to invite him via Zoom. On second thought, the hearing might afford him a platform to say anything he wants even with no probative value and, worse, for propaganda purposes only, without any accountability for at least possible contempt citation," Lacson said.