Manila, June 8 -- The Office of the Ombudsman has left open the possibility of digging deeper into the allegations of the alleged former bodyguards of fugitive lawmaker Zaldy Co in the flood control controversy.

Lawyer Karen Batu of the Office of the Ombudsman, however, said their claims must be supported by individual affidavits detailing each witness' personal knowledge.

During Monday's Senate Blue Ribbon Committee consultative meeting, Batu said the joint affidavit submitted by the group was not enough to immediately move the allegations into the formal investigative process.

She said the Ombudsman required the group's lawyer to submit individual sworn statements because the joint affidavit did not clearly indicate what each of the...