By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was “definitely” happy with the arrest of former lawmaker and now fugitive Zaldy Co in the Czech Republic, Malacañang said Friday.
“Ang isang fugitive ay dapat lamang pong mahuli at sa pangunguna ng Pangulo na nalaman niya na [ang] isang fugitive ay maaari nang maibalik sa Pilipinas ay maganda pong balita iyan,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a press briefing in Iloilo City.
Castro was also asked if Marcos was happy with the latest development, as Co is considered as “big fish” in the multibillion-peso flood control anomaly.
“Definitely, dahil sabi nga po natin ang utos po niya, managot ang dapat na managot. Kung ang isang tao po ay may warrant of arrest, fugitive, cancelled ang passport, sino po ang hindi matutuwa na ang isang taong fugitive ay maibabalik sa Pilipinas para managot?” Castro said.
It was Marcos himself who confirmed that Co was stopped at the German border after entering from the Czech Republic. He added that the Philippine government continues to coordinate with Czech authorities to facilitate Co’s return to the country.
The former Ako Bicol Party-list representative is facing charges of graft and malversation of public funds in connection with alleged irregularities in the P289-million road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
Asked if the President is prepared for Co’s possible “tell-all,” given that he has been dragging Marcos into the flood control controversy, Castro said: “Ang dapat na tanong diyan ay kung handa ba si Zaldy Co na magsabi ng katotohanan?”
Usec. Castro stressed that while neither the President nor the government is making any prejudgment on the guilt or innocence of individuals implicated in the flood control scandal, it is only appropriate that those involved must be investigated.
Nonetheless, the Palace official said that Marcos Jr. is open to hearing any possible revelations that Co may disclose regarding the flood control mess.
“Ang Pangulo, uulitin po natin, ang siyang nagsimulang magpaimbestiga ng maanomalyang flood control projects. Siya ang naunang magpaimbestiga ng diumanong korapsyon,” Usec. Castro said.
“Ang Pangulo ay handang makinig sa lahat ng maaaring sabihin ng mga taong involved at dapat na managot sa batas,” she added.
-jpv
