The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said on Thursday that it has sought assistance from its counterparts in Malaysia and Singapore to help locate three aircraft registered under companies owned by former Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co.
According to CAAP Deputy Director General Captain Donaldo Mendoza del Rosario, the agency continues to monitor the remaining 10 air assets of Co still based in the Philippines. The total value of Co’s air fleet, registered under several companies, is estimated at around ₱5 billion.
CAAP tracking showed that two AgustaWestland helicopters linked to Co were spotted in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia—one departing the Philippines on August 20 and the other on September 11. Meanwhile, a Gulfstream aircraft has been parked in Singapore since August 16.
Del Rosario confirmed that the passenger manifest did not list Co as among those who boarded any of the three aircraft. However, each flight plan indicated a one-way route only.
“The passenger manifest is included whenever an exit clearance is requested. So we have a list and Zaldy Co is not there,” he said.
Before stepping down as partylist representative, Co reportedly traveled abroad for medical treatment in the United States for an undisclosed condition.
Del Rosario added that the Philippine authorities could recover Co’s air assets through a freeze order from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and a court-issued forfeiture order.
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) earlier tagged Co in a corruption scheme involving kickbacks from flood control projects, allegedly amounting to 25% to 30% of project costs.
The ICI has recommended that the Office of the Ombudsman file plunder, bribery, indirect bribery, and corruption of public officials charges against Co, along with Senate Deputy Minority Leader Joel Villanueva and Senator Jinggoy Estrada.
The commission also urged the Ombudsman to file separate graft and malversation cases against Co over an irregular flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.