MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. revealed that fugitive former Ako Bicol Party-List representative Zaldy Co attempted to blackmail the government into stopping the cancellation of his passport—an offer the President said he immediately rejected.

“I do not negotiate with criminals,” Marcos said in a video message updating the public on cases filed against individuals implicated in the multibillion-peso flood control corruption scandal.

The President said Co’s lawyer approached authorities to request that his passport not be canceled in exchange for halting the release of videos making claims on social media.

“Nilapitan po kami ng abogado ni Zaldy Co at nagtatangkang mag-blackmail na kung hindi po namin kakanselahin daw ang passport niya, hindi na raw siya maglalabas ng video,” Marcos said.

“Kahit maglabas ka na ng video ng lahat ng kasinungalingan mo na pag-destabilize sa gobyerno… makakansela pa rin ang passport mo. Hindi ka na makakatakas sa hustisya.”

Co is under a Sandiganbayan warrant of arrest along with 15 officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Sunwest Corporation. They were indicted by the Ombudsman for graft and malversation of public funds over an alleged P289.5-million anomalous flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

Eight lawmakers recommended for charges

In the same message, Marcos said eight congressmen have been recommended for charges before the Ombudsman — including plunder, graft, bribery, and conflict of interest — for owning construction companies involved in questionable DPWH projects.

The recommendations stem from evidence gathered by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the DPWH.

“Mag magsusumite po ng ebidensya sa Ombudsman and magrekomenda sila ng kaso ng plunder, anti-graft, bribery, conflict of interest sa walong congressman na may-ari ng mga construction company na may proyekto sa DPWH,” he said.

More assets frozen in corruption probe

Marcos said the government is continuing efforts to recover public funds, with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) issuing two more freeze orders against individuals implicated in the flood control scandal.

This brings the total amount of frozen assets to about P12 billion, including Co’s air assets valued at around P4 billion, as well as 3,566 bank accounts, 198 insurance policies, 247 motor vehicles, 178 real properties, and 16 e-wallet accounts.

“Umpisa lang po ito… Mas marami pong asset ay mafo-frozen para maibalik ang pera ng tao sa kanila,” Marcos said, adding that recovering public money remains a key commitment. “Ito po ay ang aming pangako that the money of the people will be given back to the people.”

Background on probe

The President launched the infrastructure corruption investigation after denouncing irregularities in flood control projects during his July 28 fourth State of the Nation Address. The ICI, created on September 11, is tasked to investigate infrastructure projects over the last 10 years, recommend charges, and propose reforms to halt future corruption.