Baguio City Mayor Benjamin “Benjie” Magalong believes that former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez does not want former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co to return to the Philippines.
In an interview on ANC’s Headstart on Thursday, October 9, Magalong discussed the alleged “inconsistencies” within the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
Host Karen Davila raised a point earlier made by former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, who questioned the failure of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Romualdez to revoke Co’s passport.
“Ang pananaw ni Morales is… that they’re really protecting Zaldy Co para hindi umuwi,” Davila said.
Magalong responded, “Sa akin naman, it is more on the impact on former Speaker Romualdez. Sa tingin ko, mismong si Speaker Romualdez ayaw umuwi si Zaldy Co e.”
He added, “Kasi, otherwise, siya lang makakapag-implicate sa kaniya e, kung paano yung sistema na ginawa nilang dalawa. Pero hindi ko rin alam, mayroon pa namang ibang mga congressman na alam din ‘yong kanilang sistema e.”
The former ICI special adviser went on to mention several lawmakers allegedly part of the same inner circle: “Nandyan din sina Congressman Gardiola, Congressman Dong Gonzales, sila ‘yong malalapit na… may circle ‘yang mga ‘yan e. Nandyan si Congressman Dalipe, Congressman Jojo Ang, JJ Suarez, marami pang nakakaalam.”
Meanwhile, the ICI announced on October 1 that it will issue subpoenas to both Romualdez and Co. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) also confirmed on October 9 that Co has yet to return to the country.