HOUSE trial spokesperson and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co said Sunday that reviving investigations into the flood control corruption scandal despite the ongoing probe of the Department of Justice (DoJ) and Office of the Ombudsman should not be used to weaken or divert attention from the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, stressing that accountability efforts must be applied equally and without political motive.
During an interview with Nimfa Ravelo and Isa Avendaño-Umali’s Bantay Balita sa Kongreso over Super Radyo dzBB, Co said the youth has long been vocal in seeking accountability over flood control-related corruption issues.
If the newly elected Senate Blue Ribbon Committee resumes its investigation, Co cautioned against using it in a way that could undermine or discredit other accountability processes, including the impeachment proceedings.
“Sa puno’t dulo ang kabataan, kami po ang isa sa pinaka maingay para magkaroon ng pananagutan doon sa nangyari sa flood control corruption scandals,” Co said.
“Ngunit kailangan din natin maging aware na ang timing ng mga proseso. Ayaw nating i-telegraph sa mamamayan na ang pananagutan para sa isa ay gagamitin laban sa pananagutan para sa iba,” she added.
Co emphasized that accountability should not be treated selectively or strategically, but should be pursued consistently across all cases involving alleged wrongdoing.
“Ang pananagutan dapat sabay-sabay and pantay-pantay na ginagawa nating lahat,” she said.
She also warned against attempts to politicize ongoing investigations, saying corruption issues should be addressed on their own merits rather than being used to affect public perception of separate proceedings like the impeachment case against the vice president.
“Hindi po dapat gamitin ‘yung flood control para sabihin o tanggalan ng kredibilidad ‘yung pananagutang ginagawa natin kay VP Sara,” Co said.
Co added that public officials implicated in corruption allegations must also be held to account regardless of political context or alliances, saying that what matters most is the integrity of the process.
“So ang gusto naman natin lahat, ‘yung panawagan ng mamamayan lahat ng sangkot dapat managot. And so hindi dapat politicized ang issue na ginagamit laban sa iba, ‘yung pananagutan ng iba, but rather gusto natin straight forward,” she said.
“Kung may sangkot sa korapsyon, kailangan siya managot,” Co said.
Since the Senate leadership change on May 11—the same day the vice president was impeached—the majority bloc has been largely composed of senators publicly aligned with or supportive of the vice president and outright against the Marcos Jr. administration.
This shift has also altered the composition of key committees in the upper chamber, with majority members taking over chairmanships and leadership roles, including the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee previously headed by Sen. Panfilo Lacson.
The committee is now led by Sen. Pia Cayetano, with Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Sen. Rodante Marcoleta serving as vice chairpersons.
Estrada is currently facing graft and plunder charges before the Sandiganbayan, while Marcoleta is under investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman over allegations of plunder.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said last week that the sub-blue ribbon committee to be headed by Marcoleta will resume its investigation into the flood control scandal on June 4.
Meanwhile, Duterte is expected to file her answer to the articles of impeachment on June 1.
