MANILA—Resigned Rep. Elizaldy Co and former Speaker Martin Romualdez will be invited to the next hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into alleged corruption behind anomalous flood control projects, Senate President Pro Tempore and committee chairman Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said Tuesday.

Lacson stressed that the move should dispel perceptions that the Blue Ribbon Committee is “targeting, favoring or even protecting” certain personalities.

“For the next hearing of the committee, we will send an invitation letter to his address. Now we know he is abroad and will not show up. If that is the case, we will issue a subpoena, and then a show-cause order,” Lacson said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on NET25. “We are not covering up for anyone here.”

“If the show-cause order is not satisfactory, we will cite him in contempt of the committee and issue a warrant for his arrest,” he added.

In Romualdez’s case, Lacson said the invitation will be coursed through House Speaker Faustino Dy III, “in observation of the time-honored inter-parliamentary courtesy between the two houses of Congress.”

He said the committee is awaiting developments in the case before setting the next hearing and emphasized that the probe will continue as long as new major developments arise.

“If we stop the probe now, we may reinforce the perception rightly or wrongly that we are covering up for someone. No. I said it clearly, we will go where the evidence leads us,” he said.

“I will not be distracted by the noise that I am partial, that I am covering up for or targeting someone. My guiding principle is to go where the evidence leads me, and to do the right thing. Nobody is being targeted. Neither will anyone be shielded or spared. No matter how unpopular, even painful for me to hear the names of my colleagues being implicated by resource persons, I will not be deterred,” he added.

Lacson also clarified that recent changes in the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) will not affect the Blue Ribbon hearings. He confirmed that former Philippine National Police chief Rodolfo Azurin will replace Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong as adviser.

While expressing regret over Magalong’s resignation, Lacson said he welcomed Azurin’s appointment. “Generals Azurin and Magalong worked directly under me when I headed the PNP. I know their work ethic, integrity, and work experience,” he said.