Amid the Flood Control Charges, Zaldy Co Remains Out of PH
ZALDY CO – The Sandiganbayan 7th Division has ordered the archiving of the graft case versus the former Congressman over the supposed flood control corruption.
Several government officials were tagged in the supposed flood control corruption in the Philippines. The issue allegedly involves not only millions but billions of money. It triggered the “Trillion Peso March” which gathered thousands of Filipinos in the streets twice.
Among those who were accused in the flood control scam are congressmen, senators, and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Some of them are now facing charges.
One of the alleged main role players in the supposed multi-billion flood control scam is former House of Representatives Budget Appropriations Committee chairman Zaldy Co. However, he was already out of the country when the issue broke out.
The latest reports stated that Zaldy Co is allegedly hiding in Paris. While the Philippine government assures the public of continuous efforts to bring him home, the officials previously admitted that it won’t be very easy as other countries have rules of their own.
Several former officials of the public works department implicated Co in the flood control mess. The Palace previously confirmed that he applied for political asylum to France.
Zaldy Co was previously reported to have been detained by the Czech authorities but Pres. Bongbong Marcos was left disappointed after learning that he was released shortly. It was the President who broke the news that Co was detained.
Previously, amid the strong calls for him to return to the Philippines and face the accusations against him, the former Congressman maintained his innocence and stressed that he is worried about his safety. His own son distanced himself from Co amid the allegations.
Based on a report on News5, the Sandiganbayan 7th Division recently ordered the archiving of the graft charges against Zaldy Co over the supposed flood control corruption. The Court justified the order with the failure to locate and arrest the former Congressman for more than six months now.
Based on the report, while the charges against Co is archived, it can still be pulled up from the archives the moment that the former Congressman will be arrested or would surrender himself to the authorities. The prosecution failed to provide additional information on the whereabouts of Co.
Recently, several alleged former bagmen of the ex-Congressmen appeared in public. A self-proclaimed alleged bagman of Zaldy Co implicated Senator Chiz Escudero in the flood control mess shortly after the Senate joined the new majority.