The camp of former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co has assured that it will file charges against police officers over the alleged illegal and abusive seizure of several vehicles linked to Co and Sunwest Construction and Development Corp.
According to Co’s legal counsel, Atty. Ruy Rondain, the vehicles were confiscated by the Philippine National Police–Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG).
In an interview, Rondain said that 34 vehicles were forcibly taken without a search warrant.
Because of this, he said, those involved should expect a lawsuit.
He also claimed that the drivers of the vehicles were detained from 10 a.m. until nearly dawn, which their camp considers another violation.
Rondain stressed that some of the vehicles are owned by Mrs. Co, while others belong to the company.
He questioned why vehicles owned by Sunwest were seized when the company is not even a respondent in the case.
Meanwhile, PNP-HPG spokesperson Police Lieutenant Nadame Malang clarified that only six vehicles were confiscated, not 34.
He said the seizure was conducted in coordination with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and was purely an enforcement operation.
For its part, the Bureau of Customs explained that the seized luxury vehicles will not be auctioned immediately.
The agency said the vehicles will still undergo due process.
(PHOTO COURTESY: BOC)
