“I do not negotiate with criminals.”
That is what President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said in his latest video message on Wednesday, November 26.
There, he disclosed that fugitive ex-Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co tried to blackmail the government into not canceling his passport. In exchange, Marcos noted, Co’s lawyer promised to stop uploading his video testimonials online.
“Nilapitan po kami ng abogado ni Zaldy Co at nagtatangkang mag-blackmail na kung hindi po namin kakanselahin daw ang passport niya, hindi na raw siya maglalabas ng video,” President Marcos said.
However, the President said that he immediately rejected the offer from the ex-lawmaker who is facing a graft case before the Sandiganbayan.
“Kahit maglabas ka na ng video ng lahat ng kasinungalingan mo na pag-destabilize sa gobyerno. Gusto kong malaman mo Zaldy makakansela pa rin ang passport mo. Hindi ka na makakatakas sa hustisya,” he added.
Co is facing an arrest warrant issued by Sandiganbayan to him, along with 15 officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Sunwest Corporation, who were indicted by the Ombudsman with graft and malversation of public funds.
It is in connection with an anomalous PHP289.5 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.
In the same video, the chief executive reported the status of the investigation and filing of cases against other individuals who are also implicated in the multibillion-peso flood control corruption scandal.
President Marcos confirmed that eight congressmen were recommended to be charged before the Ombudsman with plunder, graft, bribery and conflict of interest for owning construction companies involved in anomalous DPWH projects.
The recommended charges against the eight lawmakers were based on the evidence gathered by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the DPWH.
“Meron din pong development ‘yung ICI at saka ang DPWH. Magsusumite po ng ebidensya sa Ombudsman and magrekomenda sila ng kaso ng plunder, anti-graft, bribery, conflict of interest sa walong congressman na may-ari ng mga construction company na may proyekto sa DPWH,” the President furthered.
Meanwhile, he also underscored the government’s goal of recovering public funds, as the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) issued two more freeze orders against those implicated.
The President said this development brings the total amount of assets frozen to about PHP12 billion.
Of that sum, PHP4 billion was the value of Co’s air assets, 3,566 bank accounts, 198 insurance policies, 247 motor vehicles, 178 real properties, and 16 e-wallet accounts.
“Umpisa lang po ito. Mas marami pong asset ay mafo-frozen para maibalik ang pera ng tao sa kanila. Ito po ay ang aming pangako that the money of the people will be given back to the people,” President Marcos promised.
CO’S LAWYER RESPONSE
In response to the statements made by the chief executive, Zaldy Co’s lawyer Ruy Rondain denied the allegations.
He said that he has “not spoken with anyone from the government to negotiate the stoppage of the videos for the passport.”
“As I have always maintained, I have no control over the release of the videos,” Rondain added.
According to the information obtained by local authorities, Co has remained abroad since he filed his leave in Congress last July due to health reasons. He resigned from his position in late September.