Co’s alleged P4.7 billion air asset probed

National

AKO Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co is facing fresh scrutiny after authorities discovered P4.7 billion worth of aircraft and helicopters registered under companies tied to his name, according to records from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

The information was disclosed by Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, who said Co was the only individual among 26 personalities linked to the flood control anomalies found to have ownership of air assets, a report by Philstar said.

Co has denied involvement in irregularities.

Dizon confirmed that the CAAP findings would be endorsed to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) for further action.

“We will leave it up to them what to do with these assets,” he said in a briefing.

According to Dizon, the 11 aircraft were registered under three companies associated with Co: Misibis Aviation & Development Corp., Hi Tone Construction Development Corp., and QM Builders. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has already requested a freeze order on Co’s assets.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) also sought assistance from other agencies in mapping out the wealth of officials and contractors implicated in the scandal.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) reported that the same group of 26 individuals collectively owned vehicles valued at P474.4 million, with contractor couple Curlee and Sara Discaya holding the largest number of luxury cars.

The revelations about Co’s air fleet and the ongoing recovery of luxury vehicles from other individuals underscore the widening scope of the flood control scandal, which has already reached high-ranking lawmakers and senior DPWH officials.

The ICI and Senate Blue Ribbon Committee are both scheduled to continue their parallel inquiries this week.(Xienderlyn Trinidad, USJ-R Comm Intern)