MANILA — Authorities seized at least eight high-end vehicles worth more than P145 million believed to be linked to former party-list lawmaker Zaldy Co, escalating the government’s crackdown on alleged irregularities surrounding multibillion-peso flood control projects.
The seizure was carried out through a warrant of seizure (SW) and detention served by the Bureau of Customs, with assistance from the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group and the Southern Police District, inside a condominium parking facility in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.
Also present during the operation were representatives of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.
Police Colonel John Guiagui, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) – National Capital Region, said nine vehicles were listed in the warrant, but only eight units were recovered.
“Yung mga sasakyan na nandito, yung walo, na subject ng SW ay dadalhin muna sa ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure) pansamantala, for now, dahil walang mapaglagyan sa Bureau of Customs (BOC),” Guiagui said.
Vehicles found at the site but not covered by the warrant were turned over to the PNP-HPG after inspectors flagged possible violations.
“Yung iba na hindi kasama sa SW, dadalhin ng HPG (Highway Patrol Group)…May alarma ito at may mga nakalista na mga initial violations like hindi nakapag-rehistro,” Guiagui added.
Investigators said the seized vehicles were registered under various names, including Sunwest Construction — a firm co-founded by Co — as well as under the name of the former lawmaker’s wife.
Most of the vehicles covered by the warrant are armored units, including a Cadillac Escalade, Lexus, Toyota Sequoia, and Toyota Land Cruiser.
Authorities are still searching for a Rolls-Royce listed in the warrant but not found at the site, with the BOC saying the vehicle may have been removed earlier in the day. Separately, the Land Transportation Office has launched an investigation into at least 15 other vehicles over what it described as “mysterious documents.”
The National Bureau of Investigation earlier filed an additional plunder complaint against Co, who remains at large./PN
