Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764136644367cropped-photo-collage.png.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and former congressman Zaldy Co. ABS-CBN News/FileMANILA (UPDATED) — Resigned congressman Zaldy Co has been in touch with the government to try to negotiate for him to <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/19/ombudsman-eyes-passport-cancellation-interpol-red-notice-vs-zaldy-co-1213">retain his passport</a>, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Wednesday.</div>Co, a former representative of Ako Bicol party-list, is the subject of an arrest warrant from the Sandiganbayan. Under the New Philippine Passport Act, a court can order a passport cancelled if the holder is convicted of a crime or is a fugitive from justice.“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,” the President said in a recorded video message.(Zaldy Co&#x27;s lawyer approached us to try to blackmail the government, saying if we do not cancel Co&#x27;s passport, he will no longer release videos)Co has been coming out with videos accusing Marcos Jr., his son <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/25/zaldy-co-tags-sandro-marcos-in-insertions-mess-1211">Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos</a> and his cousin Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez of involvement in corruption in flood control projects.“Gusto kong malaman mo, Zaldy, makakansela pa rin ang passport mo. Hindi ka na makakatakas sa hustisya.”(I want you to know, Zaldy, your passport will still be cancelled. You can no longer evade justice)In a press conference on November 13, Marcos Jr. vowed that the government will “immediately” cancel Co’s passport once criminal cases have been filed against him.<div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/14/-pure-hearsay-malaca-ang-disputes-zaldy-co-s-accusations-vs-marcos-pangandaman-1731">‘Pure hearsay’: Malacañang disputes Zaldy Co’s accusations vs Marcos, Pangandaman</a></div>A day after, Co released a video implicating the President in the flood control mess, saying the Chief Executive ordered the insertion of P100-billion worth of projects in the 2025 budget to allegedly earn kickbacks.Malacañang has denied the allegation. Marcos Jr. has also dared the former House Appropriations Committee chairperson to return to the Philippines to place his statement under oath and undergo due process.Co’s lawyer Ruy Rondain said the blackmail allegation was “completely untrue.”“I have not spoken with anyone from the government to negotiate the stoppage of the videos for the passport,” he said in a statement.“As I have always maintained, I have no control over the release of the videos,” the lawyer added. <div> </div><div>FREEZE ORDERS </div>Marcos Jr. has also announced that the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has frozen Co’s aircraft, which are worth around P4 billion.<div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/26/what-happens-if-zaldy-co-stays-in-country-without-extradition-treaty-with-ph-1205">What happens if Zaldy Co stays in country that has no extradition treaty with PH? </a></div>“Mayroon po tayong nakuhang 3,566 na bank account, 198 insurance policies, 247 motor vehicles, 178 real properties, 16 na e-wallet account at saka air asset na na-frozen na,” the President said.(We have frozen 3,566 bank accounts, 198 insurance policies, 247 motor vehicles, 178 real properties, 16 e-wallet accounts and the air assets)Her said around P12 billion in assets have so far been frozen, adding this is just the beginning.“Ito po ay ang aming pangako (This is our promise) that the money of the people will be given back to the people,” he added.Authorities will soon file plunder and <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/26/ici-eyes-raps-vs-congtractors-1352">anti-graft charges against eight lawmakers </a>who own construction companies and bagged projects with the Department of Public Works and Highways.Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, dictates that “public officials and employees shall not, directly or indirectly, have any financial or material interest in any transaction requiring the approval of their office.” -- with a report from Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News<div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/24/zaldy-co-3-other-flood-control-suspects-out-of-the-country-1044">Zaldy Co, 3 other flood control suspects out of the country</a></div>

Resigned congressman Zaldy Co has been in touch with the government to try to negotiate for him to retain his passport, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Wednesday.

Resigned congressman Zaldy Co has been in touch with the government to try to negotiate for him to retain his passport, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Wednesday.

Marcos Jr.: Zaldy Co tried to 'blackmail' admin to keep passport

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Marcos Jr.: Zaldy Co tried to 'blackmail' admin to keep passport

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 26, 2025 01:01 PM PHT

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Updated Nov 26, 2025 05:38 PM PHT

Read More:

Zaldy Co

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Flood control projects

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