MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. confirmed on Wednesday that the government has canceled the passport of former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, who is at the center of the flood control corruption probe.
“Maibabalita ko po sa inyo na ang passport po ni Zaldy Co ay kanselado na,” Marcos said in a video statement, framing the move as part of broader efforts to compel Co to return to the Philippines and face charges.
Co left the country earlier this year for what he described as medical treatment and has not returned since. He continues to insist he is innocent of all allegations.
Marcos said he had directed the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine National Police to trace Co’s whereabouts by working with embassies abroad.
“Kaya in-instruction-an ko na ang Department of Foreign Affairs, pati ang PNP (Philippine National Police), na makipag-ugnayan sa ating mga embassies sa iba’t ibang bansa para tiyakin na hindi maaaring magtago itong ating hinahabol na magtago doon sa kanilang bansa,” he said.
“At kung sakali man ay siya ay pupunta roon, ay ire-report sa atin para naman maibalik natin siya dito sa Pilipinas,” he added.
Co’s international movements have been closely monitored. House records earlier indicated he flew to New York for medical care in August and returned in mid-September.
The Department of Interior and Local Government later said he was believed to be in Portugal, with Secretary Jonvic Remulla noting Co was suspected of using a Portuguese passport “acquired so many years ago.” Remulla also said Co had been previously traced to Europe, Singapore, Spain, and Japan.
Arrest warrants were issued on November 21 for Co and 15 others — including Department of Public Works and Highways officials and executives of Sunwest Corp. — over alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
The warrants followed the Ombudsman’s filing of corruption and malversation charges linked to a P289-million project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro./PN
