A House prosecutor has urged the group of former security aides linked to former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co to personally face the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and stand by their claims of alleged cash deliveries to public officials.
Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon said the former Marine personnel, who earlier appeared in a June 4 Senate hearing, should return before lawmakers and reiterate their accusations under formal investigative conditions, where their statements would be subject to stricter scrutiny.
The witnesses previously alleged during the Senate session that suitcases containing large sums of money were transported to various political figures, triggering renewed calls for further inquiry into the claims.
Ridon said the scheduled Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on June 8, under the leadership of Sen. Erwin Tulfo, would provide a more structured setting for evaluating the credibility of the allegations, with sworn testimony and standard congressional procedures.
He said the earlier appearance of the witnesses should not remain confined to informal assertions and should instead be tested in a proper legislative forum where questioning is more rigorous.
Ridon added that their participation in the upcoming hearing would allow both lawmakers and the public to better assess whether the statements were consistent and credible when presented under oath.
He warned that failure to attend the formal inquiry would raise doubts about the reliability of their earlier disclosures, while attendance would subject their claims to closer examination.
The House prosecutor stressed that congressional investigations rely on verified testimony, particularly in cases involving serious accusations against public officials and alleged large-scale financial wrongdoing.
He said the upcoming hearing would be crucial in determining whether the allegations raised in the earlier Senate session can withstand formal legislative scrutiny.
