Former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co will not return to the Philippines for now amid the ongoing investigation into the multibillion-peso flood control scandal, citing serious threats to his life, his lawyer said Wednesday.
In a press briefing, Atty. Ruy Rondain said Co was “deathly afraid” of coming home due to the public outrage surrounding the corruption allegations.
“Ako personally, ang bigger fear ko is vigilante violence because everyone hates him. That’s the reason I’m here… maybe we can tone down the temperature, we can lower it a little bit,” Rondain told reporters.
He warned that Co could be targeted by those taking justice into their own hands: “Someone who thinks that he’s a moral guardian of the Filipino people will just take a paltik and shoot him anywhere,” he said.
Rondain urged the public to stay calm, saying some accusations had been exaggerated.
“If he fears that there are threats to his life, I don’t blame him. And I wouldn’t recommend that he come home either under these circumstances,” he added.
The lawyer also defended Co’s link to Sunwest Construction and Development Corp., a firm that reportedly obtained ₱10.15 billion worth of flood control contracts since 2022.
“If there’s a wrong committed by a corporation, that wrong does not contaminate the stockholders,” he said.
Rondain confirmed he last spoke to Co on Tuesday night and knew about his travel to Boston for medical reasons but claimed no knowledge of his current location.
As for his client’s possible return, the lawyer said it depends on when the threats subside.
“We’ll see him as soon as the fear of violence against him abates. So, I don’t know. Might be next week, might be January,” he said.
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure earlier recommended filing criminal and administrative cases against Co and other officials linked to alleged “ghost” flood control projects. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said Co could be among the first to face charges before the Sandiganbayan this November.