Rep. Zaldy Co Accused of Multi-Billion Flood Control Corruption by Former DPWH Officials
ZALDY CO – The Department of Justice claimed that the Ako Bicol Partylist Representative is being tracked now to determine his location.
Some contractors, former Department of Public Works and Highways officials and engineers, as well as controversial personalities in the flood control mess mentioned the name of Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Co in their testimonies. Controversial contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya were the first to accuse Co of allegedly receiving kickbacks from flood control projects.
According to the Discayas, Co and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez allegedly received a 30% kickback from the flood control projects. The said statement was presented during a Senate flood probe but Mr. Discaya admitted to not having any direct transaction with the Speaker during a House flood probe.
Presidential cousin and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez resigned from being the House Speaker amid the flood control accusations against him. He stressed that he wants the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to fully and freely conduct their mandate to investigate on the issue.
However, in the case of Co, the Representative was already in the United States when the Discayas mentioned him in their joint affidavit. After several persons already have accused him of allegedly receiving flood control project kickbacks, newly-elected House Speaker Bojie Dy revoked the Travel Clearance of Zaldy Co and ordered his immediate return to the Philippines amid the flood control mess.
Co did not heed the order of the House Speaker. House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin claimed that Romualdez allegedly tried to reach out to the Ako Bicol Partylist Representative to come home when he was still the House Speaker but it did not happen.
Recently, Department of Justice Secretary Boying Remulla spoke on the case of Rep. Zaldy Co amid the increasing allegations of flood control corruption against him. Based on a post of News5 on social media, Remulla confirmed that the Representative is now being tracked to determine his location.
“We’re trying to track him and maraming tumutulong na tao,” the Justice Secretary said.
Based on the post, DOJ Sec. Boying Remulla said there were flight details sent to them but they will still validate it. The remarks of the Justice Secretary came amid the reports that Zaldy Co is allegedly in Spain now.
Amid the issue, someone who has reportedly worked for Zaldy Co claimed during the recent Senate flood probe that they allegedly delivered bags of money to Romualdez and Co.