Zaldy Co's passport cancelled—Marcos
Former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Zaldy Co's passport has been cancelled.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. announced the cancellation of Co's passport in a video message released on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
"Maibabablita ko po sa inyo na ang passport po ni Zaldy Co ay kanselado na, kaya’t ininstruksyunan ko na ang Department of Foreign Affairs pati ang PNP na makipag-ugnayan sa ating mga embassy sa iba’t ibang bansa para tiyakin na hindi maaaring magtago itong ating hinahabol doon sa kanilang bansa," he said.
"Kung sakali man na siya ay pupunta roon ay irereport sa atin para naman maibalik siya sa Pilipinas," he added.
Marcos assured the public that justice will be served to everyone involved in the flood control mess.
"Nakikita po natin na maganda naman ang takbo ng proseso at yung ating mga hinihilaang kasama dito sa ganitong klaseng sindikato ay haharap sa hustisya."
"Asahan po ninyo na patuloy pa rin ang ating imbestigasyon, patuloy pa rin ang ating pagpila ng mga kaso upang tiyakin na ang mga guilty dito sa ganitong klaseng eskandalo ay haharap sa batas at bukod diyan ay maibalik ang ninakaw na pera sa taumbayan," he concluded.
This comes a few weeks after Marcos announced that an arrest warrant has been issued against Co, noting that the move was based on evidence laid out by the ICI and the DPWH.
The Office of the Ombudsman filed graft and malversation cases against Co as well as several officials of the DPWH and Sunwest Inc. on Nov. 18 in connection with anomalies in a P289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro. The charges involved malversation of public funds through the falsification of public documents, violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and a co-violation of Section 3(h) of RA 3019.
Hearings at the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the ICI have revealed billions of pesos lost to corruption.
Marcos told the public last month that there will be no happy holidays for officials involved as he vowed jail time for them before the year ends.
“Tapos na ang maliligaya ninyong araw,” Marcos said. “Hahabulin namin kayo.”
“Bago mag-Pasko, marami dito sa napangalanan dito, palagay ko matatapos na ang kaso nila, buo na ‘yung kaso. Makukulong na sila, wala silang Merry Christmas," he added.
