MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee chair Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said that the allegations made by resigned Rep. Elizaldy Co on social media have no probative value unless they are properly authenticated.

Lacson stressed that Co’s statements cannot be treated as evidence for now because they were not made under oath. He said this was the reason the committee did not play Co’s first video during its hearing on Friday.

“Ex-Rep. Zaldy Co needs to have his written affidavit properly authenticated by a consul in the place where he is presently located, then testify under oath before the Blue Ribbon Committee while within the premises of the embassy or consulate in order to make his testimony valid and have probative value. Under such condition, we will resume the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing and hear his testimony,” he said.

“Otherwise, as I have stated earlier, no matter how many Parts or Episodes his narrations are, they will all remain as such — narrations,” he added.

Lacson earlier considered having Co participate in the Senate probe via Zoom, but Sen. Ronald dela Rosa raised concerns that Co could use the platform for propaganda and that the committee would not be able to hold him accountable or cite him in contempt since he would not be under oath.

In the meantime, Lacson said he and his staff are reviewing the P100 billion worth of projects that Co claimed were inserted into the bicameral conference committee upon the alleged instruction of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. through Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin.

He said initial checks show that several items mentioned by Co do exist.

“We have been reviewing the P100 billion worth of projects that he claimed to have inserted in the bicam allegedly upon the instruction of the President through Sec Pangandaman and Usec Adrian Bersamin to match them with the items under the 2025 GAA. With at least five pages already done so far, several items are confirmed to be existing,” he said.

However, Lacson noted inconsistencies in Co’s claims, pointing out that some of the supposed project deliveries took place in 2024, contradicting his narrative about insertions in the 2025 budget.

“What I noticed in the video, however is, while he talks of the 2025 GAA, several dates of the supposed deliveries were done in 2024 which obviously contradicts his narration about the insertions in the 2025 GAA,” he said.

On Friday, Lacson also remarked that Co’s allegation that the President ordered the insertion of P100 billion into the Department of Public Works and Highways’ budget during the bicameral conference committee defies “common sense.”

“Hindi siya part ng bicam. Dapat sa NEP pa lang sinabihan ang DBM at DBCC, maglagay ng P100B sa DPWH. And assuming totoong nagpa-insert sa BCC, bakit vineto?” he said.