Amid the Flood Control Mess, Marcos Jr. Speaks on Zaldy Co
MARCOS JR. – The President refused to answer when he was asked if he thought that Zaldy Co is the most guilty in the flood control corruption in the Philippines.
Zaldy Co has yet to return to the Philippines and face the accusations against him. After his Travel Clearance was revoked by House Speaker Bojie Dy, he resigned from being the representative of Ako Bicol Partylist as he refused to return to the country citing his concerns over his safety.
Co is one of the government officials who were accused of allegedly receiving kickback from the flood control projects. Contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya were the first ones to implicate him to the issue as they claimed that Romualdez and Co allegedly receive a 30% kickback from the flood control projects.
Amid the supposed multi-billion flood control corruption in the Philippines, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the creation of an independent body that will investigate the flood control issue. It led to the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI.
According to Marcos Jr., neither former House Speaker Martin Romualdez nor Zaldy Co will be spared from the flood control probe. He also called on the concerned agencies to ensure that the charges against the ones who are responsible in the supposed multi-billion flood control corruption will be convicted.
Recently, Pres. Bongbong Marcos spoke on the case of Zaldy Co. The resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Representative is one of those that the ICC ordered to be charged over the flood control issue. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the President assured that they will move for the cancellation of the passport of Co after the charges will be filed against him.
“I think that is best directed at lawyers because that is a legal answer. The legal answer is because hindi pa nasampahan ng kaso, therefore the request for cancellation of passport cannot yet be made. However, when the time comes, we will immediately cancel his passport,” Marcos Jr. said.
When asked if his administration is open to naming Zaldy Co as a state witness, the President did not respond categorically. Based on the report, he claimed that the state witness admission is always there except for the most guilty.
Marcos Jr. was asked if he thought that Zaldy Co is the most guilty in the flood control issue corruption in the Philippines. According to the President, he does not want to answer and be accused of judging the former House member ahead.
“I don’t want [to answer]. Kapag sinagot kita sasabihin niyo pre-judged. Let the courts do their work, let the judges do their work,” the President said.
Recently, Pres. Bongbong Marcos also said that there will be no merry Christmas for the flood control culprits.