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(2nd UPDATE) Co and his fellow accused from DPWH Mimaropa and Sunwest are dealing with graft and malversation circumstances earlier than the Sandiganbayan
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – The anti-graft court docket Sandiganbayan has ordered the arrest of former Ako Bicol consultant Zaldy Co and others concerned within the corruption circumstances that stemmed from an anomalous flood management undertaking in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
The issuance of an arrest warrant in opposition to Co and 17 others from the Division of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Mimaropa and Sunwest Company was introduced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in a video posted on social media on Friday, November 21.
“At ang susunod na hakbang ay wala nang paligoy-ligoy pa. Ang ating mga awtoridad, ay syempre ipapatupad na itong mga arrest warrant. Aarestuhin na sila, ihaharap sa korte at pananagutin sa batas. Walang particular na pagtrato, walang sinasanto,” stated Marcos.
(The subsequent step is for authorities to implement these arrest warrants. They are going to be arrested, face the court docket and reply to the regulation. There can be no particular remedy, no sacred cows.)
Co and fellow accused are dealing with three corruption-related circumstances in whole.
Inside Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla additionally confirmed to Rappler the issuance of the warrant in opposition to Co.
Maintain departure orders issued
All three Sandiganbayan divisions have issued arrest warrants and a maintain departure orders (HDOs) in opposition to Co and all of the accused — apart from one DPWH official, primarily based on a duplicate of order seen by Rappler.
Solely an HDO was issued in opposition to DPWH Mimaropa official Juliet Calvo.
With the issuance of an HDO, all of the accused are actually barred from flying in a foreign country. Co, nevertheless, is already abroad.
On November 19, the Workplace of the Ombudsman filed graft and malversation circumstances in opposition to the accused, and the costs are actually pending within the following Sandiganbayan Divisions:
- Fifth Division: Violation of Republic Act (RA) No. 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act part 3(e)
- Seventh Division: Violation of RA No. 3019 part 3(h)
- Sixth Division: Malversation of public funds
Co’s case – the primary flood management corruption-related cost that reached the courts – stemmed from the alleged irregularities within the procurement and development of a flood management undertaking in Magazine-asawang Tubig River in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, amounting to P289,498,230.06.
The previous Ako Bicol consultant is at present in sizzling water amid public outrage over the flood management scandal. Co is a longtime contractor, and the development agency he based — Sunwest — bagged billions of pesos in tasks whereas he was the Home of Representatives’ appropriations committee chair.
Not too long ago, he accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former Home speaker Martin Romualdez of allegedly masterminding the insertion of P100 billion price of tasks within the 2025 funds. Co additionally accused the President of getting kickbacks, which Malacañang categorically denied.
With the issuance of the warrant, native authorities might now search the cancellation of Co’s passport with our courts. As soon as cancelled, the resigned lawmaker would possibly develop into an undocumented alien and lose his authorized foundation to stay overseas.
Another choice for the federal government is to faucet the Interpol for the issuance of a Crimson Discover and assist in Co’s arrest abroad.
In keeping with the Interpol, “a Crimson Discover is a request to regulation enforcement worldwide to find and provisionally arrest an individual pending extradition, give up, or comparable authorized motion. It’s primarily based on an arrest warrant or court docket order issued by the judicial authorities within the requesting nation. Member nations apply their very own legal guidelines in deciding whether or not to arrest an individual.” – Rappler.com
