MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. warned that public officials who steal from the Filipino people cannot evade the law, as he directed the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to coordinate with Malaysian and Singaporean authorities to secure helicopters and planes linked to fugitive ex-Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co.

In a video message, the President said the aircraft, registered under Co’s company Misibis Aviation and Development Corporation, are covered by Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) freeze orders tied to the flood control scam.

“Ngayong araw, inatasan ko ang DOTr at saka ‘yung CAAP na makipag-ugnayan sa mga kaibigan natin sa Malaysia saka sa Singapore dahil ang mga pag-aari na helicopter at saka eroplano ay mukhang doon tinatago ni Zaldy Co,” he said, stressing that Co cannot use stolen public funds to flee the country.

President Marcos underscored the government’s commitment to recover stolen assets and hold accountable everyone linked to corruption in infrastructure projects.

“Kaya kayong mga pugante, umuwi na kayo. Ang payo ko sa inyo, hindi na kayo turista. Hinahabol na kayo ng batas,” he warned.

The President also reported progress in the recovery of funds from other implicated officials. Former DPWH Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara has returned PhP110 million and is expected to return an additional PhP200 million in the next two weeks, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Co, along with 15 officials from the DPWH and Sunwest Corporation, faces graft and malversation charges over an anomalous road dike project in Oriental Mindoro, forming the first batch of cases filed by the Office of the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan.

“This government intends to bring back every peso, every asset, every person responsible and return it to the Filipino people,” President Marcos said.