Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon revealed that former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co has assets that are no longer in the Philippines. However, he noted that there is still a positive side to the situation.
In an interview on Wednesday, October 29, Dizon said that while the said assets are already outside the country, they can no longer be sold or re-registered with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
“Yes, so alam naman natin na mayroong mga assets na nawala na sa bansa. Pero ang kagandahan, is kahit wala na sila sa bansa, dahil hindi na sila puwedeng ide-register sa ating CAAP, e ‘di sila maibebenta,” Dizon said. “‘Yon naman ang importante, ‘no, na hindi sila maibebenta kahit nasaan pa sila—Singapore, Malaysia—kahit saan pa sila, ‘di sila puwedeng ibenta.”
Dizon added that the issue will be among the main topics in the upcoming meetings of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
“At magiging subject sila ngayon ng future forfeiture cases na ifa-file ng National Government, na actually, pagme-meetingan namin ng [Independent Commission for Infrastructure] ICI bukas ng alas-10:00 ng umaga,” he shared.
He further explained that their next meeting will focus on when to file civil forfeiture cases against those allegedly involved, as part of the government’s effort to recover public funds.
“Ito ‘yong second meeting namin para pag-usapan na kung kailan magfa-file ng mga civil forfeiture cases against those involved here para masimulan na ‘yong proseso ng pagbabalik ng pera kasi ‘yon naman ang gustong mangyari ng ating Pangulo at ng ating mga kababayan,” Dizon added.
It can be recalled that the CAAP earlier confirmed that three out of ten air assets registered under Zaldy Co’s name are no longer in the Philippines.