RESIGNED Ako Bicol party-list Zaldy Co is possibly one of the lawmakers to face charges for corruption in connection with flood control projects in the next 30 days, according to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.
“I do not have the list, but there are many of them. Many are there who would be charged. There are congressmen. Senators, I am not that sure if there are,” he said.
“It is likely. As far as I remember, there is a Mindoro case that would be filed,” he said referring to Co.
In case Co is formally charged, Remulla said the Office of the Ombudsman would seek the cancellation of his passport.
“And in these coming days, I will sign suspension orders or I will let my colleagues to sign to suspend corrupt officials involved in the flood control mess in various provinces,” he said.
“There are DPWH officials from different provinces where we have seen flood control problems,” he added.
He clarified, however, that the Ombudsman could not suspend a congressman, saying “we are not in the position (to do so), but we may investigate.”
Meanwhile, Remulla said ex-Bulacan assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez was no longer interested in becoming a state witness.
According to him, Hernandez could be given special consideration as a cooperative witness with the permission of the court.
“He is no longer seeking to be a state witness since they have seen it would be difficult to be given the blanket immunity, especially on ghost projects. That is an open-and-shut case. Whether or not they cooperate, they will still get convicted, isn’t it? You actually do not need a state witness here,” Remulla said.
