NAVOTAS Rep. Toby Tiangco urged government agencies to take decisive action to bring back former Albay 2nd District Rep. Zaldy Co to the Philippines, saying his continued absence shows a clear pattern of evasion from accountability.
“It’s very clear from the statement of his lawyer na walang balak umuwi si former Congressman Zaldy Co para harapin ang kaso niya,” Tiangco said. “Even before he resigned from the House, sabi ko na umiiwas talaga siya sa pananagutan.”
According to Tiangco, Co had been twice invited by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) but failed to appear.
“Mismo ang abogado niya nagsabi na hindi siya uuwi dahil daw may threat sa buhay niya. Pero anong legal basis ng ganun? Wala. Dahil ba mayaman at makapangyarihan siya, pwede na niyang gamitin ang ‘threat to life’ para umiwas sa kaso? Eh ang ordinaryong Pilipino, kailangan pa ring humarap.”
He added that no official threat assessment from national security agencies has been presented to justify Co’s claim.
“Kung talagang may threat, dapat threat assessment galing sa PNP, NBI, o NSA. Pero wala naman. Kaya dapat tanungin natin, totoo ba talaga ‘yong sinasabi nila?”
Tiangco said he has long been pressing the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to cancel Co’s passport, particularly if his absence is being used to evade prosecution.
Tiangco also raised concern over reports that Co’s air assets have been flown out of the country.
“Kung nakikita na ng gobyerno na ayaw na niyang umuwi at naglalabas na ng assets sa ibang bansa, dapat gumawa ng paraan para mapauwi siya. Nagagawa dati sa iba, bakit ngayon hindi? Kung ayaw, maraming dahilan. Kung gusto, gagawan ng paraan,” he asked.
The lawmaker reiterated that corruption and substandard projects under Co’s tenure have caused damage to the government and Filipino taxpayers.
“Pag government official ka at tumanggap ka ng pera, corruption agad ‘yon. At kung may substandard projects, malinaw na damage to government property. Imagine, ₱20 billion ang budget ng distrito halimbawa sa Oriental Mindoro, pero mismong si President BBM ang nakakita ng mga sira at substandard projects,” Tiangco said.
He cited the testimony of DPWH official Engineer Alcantara, who said Co allegedly demanded 20% commissions at first, later raised to 25% beginning 2023.
“Ang laki ng nawawala sa gobyerno dahil diyan. Kung walang 25%, mas marami sanang proyekto para sa mga tao,” he said.
Tiangco concluded by calling on authorities to ensure that justice is applied equally, regardless of wealth or position.
“Dapat mahabol siya ng legal system. Responsibilidad ng gobyerno na siguraduhing managot si former Congressman Zaldy Co. Hindi pwedeng dahil mayaman ka o makapangyarihan ka, exempted ka na sa batas,” he said.
