MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday said it has yet to receive a court order to cancel the passport of resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co.
DFA Spokesperson Angelica Escalona disclosed this in a text message to reporters on Monday after she was asked what the current status of Co’s passport was.
“As of this morning, we have not received a court order instructing the DFA to cancel his passport,” said Escalona.
Earlier, the DFA said it can only cancel passports issued to Filipino citizens upon receipt of a court order issued by a competent Philippine court.
“This is pursuant to Sections 4 and 10 of RA 11983 or the New Philippine Passport Act. As of this time, the Department has not received such an order,” Escalona said earlier.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., on November 21, said the arrest warrants against Co and 17 others are now out in relation to their cases on the anomalous flood control projects.
Co was implicated in alleged anomalous infrastructure projects, particularly flood control works in Bulacan, after former district and assistant engineers testified that he was involved in budget insertions that ballooned to at least P35 billion from 2022 to 2025.
They further claimed that kickbacks were delivered to Co, including one alleged delivery of P1 billion in cash packed into more than 20 suitcases and transported in several vans to his penthouse unit at a luxury hotel in Taguig. /gsg