The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) on Thursday said it is keeping track of 10 remaining air assets worth nearly P5 billion registered under companies owned by former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy ‘Zaldy’ Co, after three others flew out of the country in the past two months.
According to Caap Director General Raul del Rosario, the aircraft linked to the former lawmaker that remain in the country have so far been conducting only ‘maintenance flights.’
Caap monitoring showed that Co’s two AgustaWestland helicopters were tracked in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, after leaving the country on Aug. 20 and Sept. 11, respectively, while a Gulfstream aircraft has been in Singapore since Aug. 16.
Del Rosario confirmed that passenger manifests showed Co did not use the three aircraft to fly overseas. However, the flight plan only indicated a one-way trip.
‘The passenger manifest is included whenever an exit clearance is requested. So we have a list, and Zaldy Co is not there,’ he said.
Before stepping down as party-list representative, Co left the country to seek medical treatment in the United States for an undisclosed condition.
Del Rosario noted that Philippine authorities could recover Co’s air assets through a freeze order from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and a court-issued forfeiture order.
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has tagged Co in a corruption scheme that allegedly gave lawmakers who acted as project proponents in certain flood control projects kickbacks amounting to 25 to 30 percent.
The fact-finding body has recommended to the Office of the Ombudsman that Co, along with Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, be charged with plunder a nonbailable offense as well as bribery, indirect bribery, and corruption of public officials.
The ICI also asked the Ombudsman to file graft and malversation charges against Co over an anomalous flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.