By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday urged former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co anew to return to the Philippines and face the corruption charges against him.
Marcos made the remarks after Co, in another video message, claimed that at least P56 billion in kickbacks from various infrastructure projects from 2022 to 2025 were delivered to the President and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
“Look at the quality of his statements… Mahaba na ang naging mga usapan natin tungkol sa fake news. Anyone can go online and make all kinds of claims and say all kinds of things. Paulit-ulit. But this—it means nothing,” the President said during a press briefing in Malacañang.
“For it to mean something, umuwi siya rito. Harapin niya ‘yung mga kaso niya. Kung mayroon siyang gustong sabihin, sabihin niya. Malalaman naman ng tao ‘yan eh. Patunayan niya.”
Marcos Jr. also questioned why Co remains at-large if he maintains his innocence.
“Ba’t ka nagtatago sa malayo? Ako hindi ako nagtatago eh. Kung mayroon kang akusasyon sa akin, nandito ako. Gawin niyang pareho. At para patas lang naman,” he said.
The Sandiganbayan earlier issued warrants of arrest against Co and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Sunwest Corp. due to charges of graft and malversation of public funds over an anomalous flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.
Seven of the 16 people charged alongside former Co are now in government custody—six males were detained at the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory and one female in Camp Caringal Female Dormitory.
In a video report, Marcos said one suspect was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), while six others voluntarily surrendered to the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
He added that two other accused have reportedly indicated they will turn themselves in to authorities.
“Sa lahat ng natitirang akusado, ang aking payo sa inyo ay sumuko na kayo. Huwag niyo nang antayin na habul-habulin pa kayo,” Marcos said.
“Mas maganda para sa sitwasyon ninyo na sumuko na kayo para maganda ang inyong pagsagot sa mga alegasyon na dinala kontra sa inyo.”
The Chief Executive also reminded anyone against hiding the accused.
“Sa mga nagtatangkang tumulong sa pagtatago, tandaan ninyo na kahit papaano mananagot din kayo kung kayo ay nagtatago ng isang fugitive from justice. Tuloy-tuloy po ito. Hindi kami titigil. Hindi kami hihinto.”
-jpv
