The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assured the public that the government will recover the air assets owned by resigned Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co, even after some were reportedly flown out of the country.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said authorities are determined to reclaim all aircraft linked to Co, following confirmation from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) that three of his air assets—two AgustaWestland helicopters and a Gulfstream aircraft—departed for Malaysia and Singapore before the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) could freeze them.
Dizon stressed that the aircraft cannot be sold and would remain government property if proven to have been purchased with funds from illegal transactions. Out of Co’s ten air assets, three were reportedly attempted to be deregistered but were blocked by authorities.
The update came as several agencies, including the AMLC, Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Bureau of Customs (BOC), CAAP, and the Office of the Ombudsman, met in Taguig City for the Asset Recovery Technical Working Group Meeting.
Integrity Commission of Inquiry (ICI) Chairman Andres Reyes Jr. said the government remains resolute in retrieving all wealth illegally obtained from public funds.
