The whole truth, and nothing but…

After many months in hiding, Elizaldy Co will finally be returning to the Philippines. Whether the nation will hear the truth from him on the budget and flood control mess is another story.

Following Co’s apprehension by Czech authorities for traveling without a passport, the Philippine government must exert every effort to bring him back ASAP to the country. This will douse speculation that certain quarters are now trying to influence whatever Co might say upon his return to Manila.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said the Blue Ribbon committee, which he chairs, will summon Co in the resumption of the flood control probe – but only after the panel’s initial report on the inquiry gets the needed three more signatures from his fellow senators.

The first thing Lacson says he wants to clarify from Co is which parts are true or false in the video statements released by the former congressman.

The unsworn statements linked President Marcos himself, his son Sandro and cousin Martin Romualdez along with other officials to flood control corruption payoffs.

Co had chaired the House appropriations committee in the previous 19th Congress, until his ouster was initiated by Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos in January 2025. A former representative of the Ako Bicol party list, Co also claimed that he was told to leave the country last year by Romualdez, at the time the House speaker.

Co, who has hurled accusations of high crimes against top government officials, himself faces criminal prosecution. At the Sandiganbayan yesterday, state witness Henry Alcantara testified that he delivered P800 million in just one go as flood control kickback to Co in 2024.

Alcantara, former Bulacan public works first district engineer, told the anti-graft court that only 30 percent of funds for flood control went to actual project implementation.

Malacañang said the capture of Co belied criticisms that the government has forsaken the campaign started by President Marcos against flood control anomalies, after people close to him were implicated.

Palace press officer Claire Castro also asked whether Co is ready to tell the truth. This will be known when Co returns to the country – the sooner the better.