RESIGNED Ako Bicol Party List Representative Zaldy Co has engaged the services of veteran lawyer Ruy Alberto Rondain to defend him over possible criminal charges that may be filed against him for his alleged involvement in the multi-billion anomalous flood control projects of the government.
Rondain, who co-founded the Rondain and Mendiola law firm, was a graduate of the University of the Philippines’ Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Bachelor of Law.
He was also a former associate at the ACCRA law and served as legal counsel for former Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel ‘Mikey’ Arroyo in a tax case.
On Wednesday, Rondain appeared for the first time before the media on behalf of Co, who left the country last August 8 to purportedly undergo medical treatment in the United States.
Rondain said he last spoke to Co on Tuesday night but did not discuss his whereabouts.
‘I’m curious personally, but I can’t be curious as a lawyer because it is not relevant. And I don’t want to lie to you if you’re asking me now. I’m looking at you in the eye. I’m telling you honestly that I don’t know because I never asked him,’ he said.
However, the lawyer said Co has no intention of returning to the country despite the subpoena issued by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) for him to appear before the investigating body on November 11 and 12 and shed light on accusations that he received huge kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects of the government.
Co, who previously served as chair of the appropriations committee, is also being required by the ICI to bring various documents in relation to flood control projects undertaken by companies where he or his family have beneficial interest.
‘I don’t think there’s any intention to come home.A subpoena has to be served, you cannot subpoena a person who is not here,’ Rondain said.
The lawyer said Co’s main consideration in refusing to come back home was his safety.
‘He’s deathly afraid of coming home because there are serious threats that one half of the country wants to throw him in jail and throw away the key, the other half wants to string him up by the nearest tree,’ Rondain said.
The lawyer said he would not even persuade Co to immediately return, fearing possible ‘vigilante attacks’ against him.
Rondain also noted that there are no criminal charges filed against Co before yet before any court.
‘For me, personally, my bigger fear is vigilante violence, everyone hates him. That’s the reason I’m here.The reason I’m here is because maybe we can tone down the temperature, we can lower it a little bit,’ Co’s lawyer said.
The ICI earlier recommended before the Ombudsman the prosecution of Co and together with 17 other individuals for criminal and administrative charges in connection with the P289.5 million anomalous flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Among the charges recommended against Co and other DPWH officials were violation of the provisions of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, malversation of public funds under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) in relation to Article 171 of the RPC or falsification of public documents by a public officer
The recommendation stemmed from the inspection conducted by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon of the project that was undertaken by Sunwest, Inc., the construction firm being linked to the family of Co.
The project involves the construction of a road dike along Mag-Asawang Tubig River.
The Office of the Ombudsman has already issued an order for Co to answer the charges against him.
But Rondain said their camp would likely waive the filing of a counter-affidavit, as he believes that the Ombudsman has already pre-judged this case.
‘My thinking is the Ombudsman has already pre-judged this case. And this is bolstered by the statements of [DPWH] Secretary Vince Dizon, who said 60 people will be in jail before Christmas,’ Rondain said.
‘Under these circumstances, there’s really no tactical benefit to filing a counter-affidavit. So the answer is, at this time, the way things are going, no, he does not intend to file a counter-affidavit,’ he added.