Ex-solon telling priests, friends he wants Ombudsman dialogue
Former congressman Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co has sent “feelers” seeking a possible dialogue with the Ombudsman through intermediaries, including priests known to him, regarding his involvement in anomalous flood control projects, Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla said Tuesday.
This developed as government officials and lawmakers tightened pressure on Co as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Senate signaled tougher actions amid their ongoing investigations.
DILG chief Remulla, whose brother Jesus Crispin Remulla is the Ombudsman, clarified that the outreach was not made directly to him and remains unverified.
“Meron na siyang feelers through sa mga ibang pari na kilala niya. Not exactly [susuko], parang nagpa-pakonekta, gusto ng dialogue sa amin pero that’s not verified, parang nagsabi pa lang, sinabi ng kaibigan ng kaibigan na pinaparating,” Remulla said.
(He has already sent feelers through some priests he knows. It’s not exactly [that he’s surrendering], but more like he’s trying to establish a connection; he wants a dialogue with us. However, that’s not verified yet—it’s just a word-of-mouth message being passed along through friends of friends.)
“Of course, we take them seriously. Those who want to engage in dialogue, we’ll talk with them. But if it’s a bribe, let’s not do it anymore,” the DILG chief said.
Secretary Remulla said he was not aware of the identities of those who reached out and stressed that any attempt to influence the investigation would be rejected.
He added that Co’s last known location was in Portugal.
Co, who had chaired the powerful House of Representatives committee on appropriations, is facing graft charges along with several former DPWH-Mimaropa officials over a P289-million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Remulla said Co could have obtained Portuguese citizenship through the country’s Golden Visa program, which allows foreign nationals to acquire residency and eventually citizenship through substantial investments.
“Mag-invest ka ng so many hundred thousands of dollars, bumili ka ng bahay. After so many years, bibigyan ka ng passport. Una visa, tapos passport,” Remulla said.
(You invest so many hundreds of thousands of dollars and buy a house. After several years, you will be given a passport. First a visa, then a passport.)
He added that under Portuguese law, deportation could still be possible if the alleged crimes were committed before the issuance of the passport.
“If he already has the passport, then he committed the crime, then he has to be tried there,” Remulla said.
“Criminal mind talaga, may escape route kaagad. Galing na ‘yung escape route ko. Maaga pa lang, mag-one year na siya abroad,” he added.
(His is truly a criminal mind, he planned an escape route immediately. He had an escape route prepared. Early on—it’s been almost a year now—he was already abroad.)
Despite the challenges, Remulla said the government was exploring other legal options to bring Co back to the country, noting discussions with Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who chairs the Blue Ribbon Committee investigating the anomalous projects.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said it had no information on the reported “feelers” sent by Co.
“DOJ is a big department. But to the extent of my knowledge, I cannot comment on things I do not know and I don’t want to,” Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said.
Vida said three plunder cases involving three high-profile individuals were already “moving.” DOJ Spokesperson Polo Martinez earlier said Co, former senator Bong Revilla, and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada were involved in these cases.
“Ang pagbabasehan ng ating mga piskal, ng mga prosecutors, ang page-evaluate ng iba’t ibang pira-pirasong ebidensya ay kung ano ang sinu-submit sa kanya,” Vida said.
(What our fiscals and prosecutors will base their evaluation on, regarding the various pieces of evidence, is whatever is submitted to them.)
Earlier, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon testified before the Sandiganbayan that the government has strong evidence linking Co, contractor Sunwest, and several DPWH officials to the deliberate implementation of a substandard road dike project in the same area.
“For us, the evidence is strong. We are confident that the Sandiganbayan will prove that the project was substandard and that Sunwest, former congressman Zaldy Co, and certain DPWH officials conspired to implement a substandard project to steal public funds,” Dizon said during the bail hearing of former DPWH officials charged with malversation.
Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros said the Senate has issued a show cause order against Co, warning that based on legislative precedent, individuals who repeatedly ignore invitations while remaining abroad may be compelled to return to the country.
“Under a legislative warrant, a person who has been repeatedly invited but remains abroad and refuses to face an investigation can be compelled to return to the country,” Hontiveros said, citing past cases handled by the Senate.
