Statement of DOJ Chief Boying Remulla on Corruption Accusations vs. Zaldy Co
DOJ CHIEF – Justice Secretary Boying Remulla dared former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co to face the corruption accusations against him.
The name of former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co was mentioned several times in the testimonies of some witnesses in the flood control scam. The former Representative is accused of allegedly receiving multi-billion kickback from the flood control projects funded by the government.
Presidential son and Ilocos Norte Congressman Sandro Marcos was one of those who called for the return of Zaldy Co to face the allegations against him. His own son, Ellis Co, also called for his father to go home and answer to the questions of the Filipino people.
A former marine, Master Sergeant Orly Guteza, recently appeared during a Senate flood probe and presented his testimony. According to him, he is a former security staff of Co and he was allegedly part of the team who delivered suitcases filled with millions of money to the then-Ako Bicol Partylist Representative and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Presidential cousin and Leyte Cong. Martin Romualdez resigned from being the House speaker amid the flood control corruption accusations against him. A House member also claimed that Romualdez allegedly tried to get Zaldy Co home when he was still the Speaker.
Newly-elected House Speaker Bojie Dy revoked the Travel Clearance of Zaldy Co and ordered him to return to the Philippines. The then-Representative was already out of the country when controversial contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya accused him of allegedly receiving flood control kickbacks.
However, amid the growing calls for him to return to the country, Co stepped down from being a member of the House of Representatives. He had tendered his resignation while the Philippine authorities are still trying to get him home to face the accusations against him.
Recently, DOJ Chief Boying Remulla spoke on the flood control corruption allegations against Zaldy Co. Based on a post of News5 on social media, the Justice Secretary admitted that he expected the resignation of the former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative from the position.
“Well I kinda expected that kasi ayaw niya nang ma-obliga ng Congress,” Remulla said.
The DOJ Chief was asked about the next steps of the Philippine government with regards to the corruption accusations against Zaldy Co. According to Remulla, they will wait for the arrest warrant against the former Representative so they can seek for the help of the International Criminal Police Organization.
“We will wait for his warrant so we can have the Interpol moving. We will wait for his warrant… Hindi magpaparamdam ‘yun. He will be a fugitive… That’s inevitable,” the DOJ Chief said.
Based on the post, DOJ Chief Boying Remulla dared Zaldy Co to return to the country and face the corruption accusations against him if he really claims to be innocent. He stressed that there will be a due process.
“Harapin mo ‘yung charges and if you say that you are innocent, then due process is always here,” Remulla said.
Amid the corruption issues in the Philippines, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte claimed that the Philippine government is allegedly “unstable” now.