Former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co has expressed great confidence that the Senate--and not the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI)--would ultimately uncover the truth in the budget insertion and flood control projects mess.

In "Part 2" of his series of video exposés on the alleged massive corruption in the Marcos administration, Co challenged Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla to do his job and go after the President himself.

But in a somewhat condescending manner, Co says that he knows Remulla won't answer his challenge. This was when the former House Committee on Appropriations chairman began to praise the Senate.

"Nanawagan din po ako sa Senado na imbestigahan ang P100-billion insertion ni Presidente (I also call on the Senate to investigate the President’s P100‑billion insertion), Co said in the particular video message posted on Saturday, Nov. 15.

"Alam ko po na hindi gagawin ni Ombudsman Remulla ang hamon ko, pero magaling ang Senado sa imbestigasyon at ako ay naniniwala na dahil sa kanila, lalabas ang katotohanan," he added.

(I know that Ombudsman Remulla will not take up my challenge, but the Senate is good at investigations, and I believe that because of them, the truth will come out.)

The Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, has been investigating the flood control projects corruption scandal on and off for months.

On the other hand, the ICI--formed by President Marcos himself through Executive Order (EO) No.94--has been probing and holding closed-door hearings on the controversy more consistently since mid-September.

However, it was the Ombudsman that Co asked to step up--not the ICI which for all intents and purposes had been as acting special investigator on the flood control projects mess.

"Ngayon ay hinahamon ko si Ombudsman Remulla. Kung seryoso talaga siya sa mga sinasabi niya sa kanyang press release na idadamay niya pati si Martin Romualdez kung magbibigay ako ng ebidensya," Co said in Part 2.

(Now I challenge Ombudsman Remulla. That is, if he is truly serious about what he said in his press release that he would also involve Martin Romualdez if I provide evidence.)

"Imbestiagahan din niya si President Bongbong Marcos. Sabi nga ni BBM noong SONA (State of the Nation Address), let's do it right, at 'Mahiya naman kayo,' hindi po ba?" he said.

(Then he should also investigate President Bongbong Marcos. As BBM himself said during the SONA, let’s do it right, and 'You should feel some shame,' isn't that right?)

In Part 2, Co claimed that P25 billion--or 25 percent of the P100-billion infrastructure projects--was sent to Marcos as SOP (standard operating procedure). This is a euphemism for payoffs or kickbacks.