Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito cautioned on Tuesday that ensuring the safe return of former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co will be a daunting task, citing possible threats from individuals who may want to keep the “Floodgates Scandal” concealed.
His remarks came after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. committed to extradite Co, who is currently in custody in the Czech Republic after being intercepted at the German border for traveling without proper documentation.
Ejercito underscored Co’s central role in what he described as the largest corruption scandal in Philippine history, urging the government to prioritize his repatriation to facilitate a full investigation into massive anomalies in government flood control projects.
“Zaldy Co, being one of the Masterminds of the Floodgates Scandal should be brought home at all costs and tell all what he knows about the biggest corruption scandal in our history,” Ejercito said in a formal statement.
The senator expressed concern that powerful figures implicated in the scheme might attempt to block Co’s testimony, hinting that lawmakers allegedly acting as contractors—dubbed “Congtractors”—have the most to lose.
“The challenge here is to bring him back in one piece, there might be others who do not wish that he be brought back in the country,” Ejercito stressed. “Maraming matatakot pag nakabalik si Zaldy, lalo ang mga ‘Congtractors!’”
Ejercito further called for a rigorous investigation and prosecution of all personalities involved in siphoning public funds, stressing that Co’s testimony is vital to uncovering the full scale of the scheme.
“Dapat siyang ma-imbestigahan ng husto para ituloy na nya ang pagsisiwalat ng nalalaman niya sa flood control scheme. At syempre, dapat rin siyang mapanagot gaya ng mga kasama niyang Congtractors na pasimuno ng scam na ito,” he added.
The national government continues to coordinate with Czech authorities to finalize the legal process for Co’s repatriation.