Pres. Marcos Jr. Explains Zaldy Co Can’t Easily Be Brought Home to PH
MARCOS JR. – Amid the ongoing call for accountability on the flood control issue in the Philippines, the President confirmed that former House Budget Appropriations Committee Zaldy Co is in Portugal.
The flood control scam left thousands of Filipinos calling for accountability. In 2025, the so-called “Trillion Peso March” was held twice and thousands of people joined the street protests amid the supposedly multi-billion corruption through the flood control projects of the government.
Several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were tagged in the flood control mess. Many members of the House of Representatives including presidential cousin and Leyte Congressman Martin Romualdez are also accused of alleged corruption. He stepped down from the House Speakership amid the accusations.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives launched flood control investigations but the latter stopped when the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) was created. With regards to the Senate, it came up with a flood control report.
Senate President Tito Sotto previously confirmed that the names of senators Chiz Escudero, Joel Villanueva, and Jinggoy Estrada are in the Senate flood control report. However, contrary to the calls of many Filipinos, the Blue Ribbon Committee is not recommending an investigation on former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Aside from Romualdez, another name that was mentioned during the flood control hearings was former House Budget Appropriations Committee chairman Zaldy Co. He is even accused as allegedly one of the main role players in the supposed corruption.
Zaldy Co is one of the individuals summoned by the ICI. However, amid the calls for him to return to the Philippines, he hid abroad. In its 125-day report submitted to Marcos Jr., the independent commission noted the following:
- Nine referrals, covering 65 implicated individuals, submitted to the Ombudsman, one of which was made with the Department of Public Works and Highways
- 66 individuals referred to the Department of Justice for the issuance of Immigration Lookout Bulletin Orders (ILBOs)
- 32 hearings covering 36 witnesses, including 20 legislators and five agency heads
- 16 site inspections nationwide
- 1,173 documents processed
- 6,692 bank accounts of implicated individuals frozen or subjected to freeze orders
- P24.7 billion worth of assets seized, preserved, frozen or surrendered, according to the Anti-Money Laundering Council. This includes 229 vehicles, 394 insurance policies, 161 real properties, 16 e-wallet accounts and 10 air assets
- Eight inter-agency coordination meetings conducted and six legislative sessions attended
- Three hearings livestreamed
Recently, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed that Zaldy Co is in Portugal. However, the Chief Executive explained that the former House Budget Appropriations Committee Chairman cannot be just easily brought home to the Philippines.
”You cannot bring him home because hindi – that’s just not the way it works. We have to ask the assistance of the country where he is in, which is presently Portugal,” Marcos Jr. said.
According to the President, the Philippine government already requested the Interpol for a Red Notice on Zaldy Co and continuously communicates with the Portuguese authorities for the return of the former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative.
”You do not send your own police to go and pick him up kasi wala namang jurisdiction ang police doon sa kung saan ‘yung ibang bansa. So, they cannot arrest anyone. So, it will have to be with the assistance of the hosting country,” the President added.
Previously, aside from Ombudsman Boying Remulla, Department of Interior and Local Government or DILG Chief Jonvic Remulla also claimed that Zaldy Co must return a huge amount if he wants to talk to the government.