DESPITE Elizaldy ‘Zaldy’ S. Co’s resignation as representative of the Ako Bicol Party-list last Monday, the former lawmaker is still not off the hook yet when it comes to the government’s ongoing probe on the multibillion flood-control project anomalies, according to Malacañang.
Also on Tuesday, the government moved to block an alleged attempt to de-register three helicopters said to belong to Co, which would have paved the way for its sale overseas.
Co resigned after House Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ G. Dy III revoked the travel clearance of the embattled lawmaker and on the last day of the 10-day deadline given to him by the House of Representatives to return to the Philippines.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Palace Press Office Claire Castro said local law enforcers will coordinate with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to bring Co home once the necessary case is filed against him.
‘If a case is filed against him, he cannot avoid it. He cannot run away from it. So, it is better if he is charged, he should just fight for his rights and the truth according to his evidence,’ she said in Filipino.
Co together with other incumbent and former lawmakers were accused of receiving millions of kickbacks from flood control projects.
‘If his name is mentioned [in the investigation], he should definitely answer [the allegations against him] because if he can’t answer it and avoids it, he will only appear guilty. So, it’s better for him to explain his side,’ Castro said.
As of press time, Castro said they are still waiting for information from the Department of Justice (DOJ) if Co has already returned from his trip abroad for a medical treatment in the United States.
DOJ has asked the Interpol to issue a ‘Blue Alert Notice’ to track the whereabouts of Co abroad.
Castro said Co’s status was not discussed during the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council meeting held in Malacañang on Tuesday.
Among the bills presented during the meeting, she noted, were the amendments to the Rice Tariffication Act and Anti-Money Laundering Act as well as laws on online lending.
3 choppers
The government has blocked attempts to deregister three helicopters tied to Co, as authorities move to preserve billions worth of assets flagged in the widening flood control corruption scandal.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) reported that companies tied to Co tried to deregister the aircraft, a requirement before they could be sold prospectively abroad.
‘Caap informed me there were attempts to deregister three choppers of companies linked to Congressman Zaldy Co. Caap informed that the de-registration from the Philippines is a requirement in order for them to sell the aircraft,’ Dizon said in a chance interview on Tuesday.
However, the attempts failed thanks to the Caap’s ‘standing order’ barring the removal of any aircraft flagged in the government’s flood control corruption probe.
Earlier, the DPWH sought the aid of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) in freezing more than P4.7 billion worth of aircraft linked to Co’s family and affiliated firms.
Among the assets are a $36-million Gulfstream 350 business jet and two AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters valued at $16 million each, all under Misibis Aviation led by Co’s son, Michael Ellis.
Other assets are registered under Hi-Tone Construction, linked to Co’s brother Christopher, and QM Builder, one of the top contractors now under investigation for anomalous flood control projects.
Investigators have flagged these companies as either directly controlled by Co’s relatives or tied to contractors under scrutiny for alleged ghost and overpriced flood control projects.
Co, who once chaired the House appropriations committee, has yet to return to the country from medical leave in the United States. His name has surfaced repeatedly in the ongoing investigation into the flood control mess, which has unraveled ghost and ‘super substandard’ projects across the country.
Dizon has said that the asset hunt, ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is meant to ensure that alleged ill-gotten wealth is not dissipated and that those responsible for the flood control mess are held accountable.