Blue ribbon committee resumes inquiry on ghost flood control projects

MANILA, Philippines—Resigned representative Elizaldy Co and his supposed former security detail failed to attend the resumption on Monday of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation on ghost flood control projects. The Senate last week subpoenaed Co, former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan and 10 others to compel them to attend the Jan. 19 public hearing on the reported flood control fund scandal. Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the committee, said that except for Co and Guteza, the rest of those subpoenaed were present. Senate President Vicente Sotto III said that aside from Co and Bonoan, he also subpoenaed former Education undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, former special envoy to China Maynard Ngu, former Marines Orly Guteza, Carleen Yap-Villa, Gerald Pacanan, Arjay Domasig, John Paul Estrada, Mark Teksay, Mario Lipana, and Gerald Opulencia. Lacson said Co and Guteza will be issued a show cause order to explain why they failed to attend the inquiry. "If we are unsatisfied [with their response] then we will cite them in contempt and eventually issue a warrant of arrest," he said.