Navotas City Lone District Representative Toby Tiangco on Sunday denounced Atty. Ruy Rondain’s proposal to allow house arrest or bail to encourage former Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co to surrender to authorities.
Tiangco emphasized that plunder is strictly non-bailable and asserted that no form of special treatment should be extended in cases involving massive public fund misuse.
“Hindi tayo papayag na house arrest o bail, hindi pwede yon sa ilalim ng batas. Non-bailable offense ang plunder. Kapag simpleng barya ang kinuha ng isang tao, diretso kulong. Pero kapag bilyon-bilyon ang pinag-uusapan, biglang magre-request ng house arrest? No way,” he said.
Two Sandiganbayan divisions have issued arrest warrants for Co and 15 others over graft and malversation charges linked to the allegedly anomalous ₱289.5-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.
Tiangco said the seriousness of the allegations calls for accountability, not concessions.
“The law is very clear. Malversation of public funds and graft are among the gravest crimes against the Filipino people. Hindi ito sakit ng ulo na basta puwedeng ‘magpahinga sa bahay.’ Kung ordinaryong mamamayan walang lusot, bakit sa kay Zaldy Co may special request?” he added.
He likewise urged defense lawyers to advise their clients to confront the cases properly.
“Kung may tiwala silang malinis ang kanilang kliyente, harapin niya ang kaso sa loob ng kulungan, hindi sa sala ng bahay. Justice cannot be twisted to favor the powerful,” Tiangco said.