Resigned congressman Elizaldy Co stands to lose his chance to present his defense amid corruption allegations against him over anomalous flood control projects nationwide.
At a press briefing yesterday, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano confirmed that an order to file a counter-affidavit was served last week at Co’s last known address, but people there refused to receive it.
Clavano said the order was validly served and is ‘deemed received already’ by Co.
‘If the period (to file a counter-affidavit) has lapsed, then we will consider Co as ‘in default’,’ he added.
A respondent in default could no longer file his counter-affidavit and evidence, Clavano explained.
Prompted by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure’s first interim report last month, the ombudsman is probing P289.5 million in alleged ghost and substandard flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro.
The projects are linked to Co’s Sunwest Inc.
Co left the Philippines in August, supposedly to seek medical treatment in the United States.
His current location remains unknown.
‘The ombudsman has intelligence on his whereabouts,’ Clavano said.
‘Once we file cases in court, we can request the cancellation of his passport. And once an arrest warrant is out, we can request an Interpol red notice,’ he added.
More cases
Public officials will be included in the next batch of cases that the National Bureau of Investigation will file with the Department of Justice (DOJ).
In an interview with ‘Storycon’ on One News yesterday, NBI officer-in-charge Lito Mag no said malversation, bribery, graft and corruption charges will be filed next week.
‘The first one that we filed didn’t (include elected of ficials) yet. But in this next one. there will be a proponent (of a project),’ he noted.
Meanwhile, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said they will file more cases with the ombudsman this week.