President Bongbong Marcos announced that the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has frozen a total of ₱12 billion in assets linked to officials and personalities under investigation for alleged corruption.
In a video released Wednesday, November 26, the President detailed the seizures, including ₱4 billion worth of air assets belonging to former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co, along with 3,566 bank accounts, 198 insurance policies, 247 vehicles, 178 real properties, and 16 e-wallets.
Marcos said the Infrastructure Cluster Investigation (ICI) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will now forward evidence to the Office of the Ombudsman, recommending plunder, graft, bribery, and conflict-of-interest charges against eight lawmakers who allegedly benefited from government projects through their construction firms.
The President also condemned attempts to influence the investigation.
“Nilapitan po kami ng abogado ni Zaldy Co, at nagtatangkang mamblackmail, na kung hindi po namin kakanselahin daw ang passport niya, hindi na raw siya maglalabas ng video. I do not negotiate with criminals,” the President revealed.
Marcos added that Co’s passport cancellation will proceed regardless of any statement the former lawmaker releases.
He repeated this stance in the caption of his post: “At malinaw ang aking posisyon, hindi ako nakikipag-negosasyon sa kriminal. Kahit anong video ang ilabas ni Zaldy Co, makakansela pa rin ang passport niya. Walang makakatakas sa hustisya.”
Marcos vowed continued action, saying, “Tuloy ang trabaho. Tuloy ang paglilinis. Para sa pera ng bayan, para sa taong bayan.”
The development comes after Zaldy Co released another video statement, this time accusing Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative and House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos of involvement in questionable budget insertions.