Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Johnson Manabat

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) — Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla believes resigned Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co is not inclined to come home amid allegations that he &quot;masterminded&quot; last-minute insertions in the 2025 national budget. In an ambush interview at the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) office in Taguig, Remulla said he is not expecting Co to return home soon.<div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/29/zaldy-co-resigns-as-house-representative-amid-flood-control-scandal-1600">Zaldy Co resigns as House representative amid flood control scandal</a></div>&quot;Ang buhay ng ginagawa namin - matatapos din &#x27;to kaaagad eh, pero mas matagal ang kaso. I don&#x27;t expect him (Co) to come home.. I mean the way that everything is right now - I don&#x27;t think he will just go home,&quot; said Remulla.Nonetheless, he urged Co to return to the country and &quot;face the music.&quot;&quot;We have to face the music, harapin mo ang charges and if you say you are innocent then due process is always here,&quot; said Remulla.Co announced on Monday afternoon that he is resigning as a member of the House of Representatives, which Remulla said he expected.&quot;Kasi ayaw na niyang ma-obliga ng Congress. We will wait for his warrant so we can have the Interpol move in, we will wait for his warrant,&quot; the justice secretary said.He said a formal complaint has been filed before the DOJ against Co and he is now considered as a person of interest (POI).&quot;We&#x27;re just looking at the affidavits… may complaint na sa DOJ so he&#x27;s already a person of interest- he&#x27;s already a person of interest as are the others,&quot; Remulla told reporters.Remulla added Co is believed to be in Spain. &quot;So far hindi naman siya fugitive pero ganoon ang magiging status niya later on, that&#x27;s inevitable,&quot; he said. Other contractors, including Pacifico and Sarah Discaya, are also considered as persons of interest, Remulla said.Remulla said the DOJ is still applying for a blue notice from the Interpol to monitor the whereabouts of Co.&quot;Pinoprocess pa natin, marami kaming requirements para ma-file namin yan. Dapat kumpleto. As soon as possible. The target is yesterday but we have to follow due process,&quot; said Remulla.&quot;We get tips, we will know where he&#x27;s going every time, &#x27;yun ang mahalaga. Malaman kung nasaan siya lagi. Marami na kaming report. Kaya lang siyempre wala pa naman kaming magagawa doon. Kailangan lang alam namin kung saan siya. Warrant of arrest from the court,&quot; Remulla added.Remulla believes the DOJ&#x27;s ongoing investigation has no conflict with the ICI, which is also conducting an independent investigation.&quot;The DOJ was simply working with the Ombudsman - kasi ang kalahati ng kaso niyan, if it involves other cases, and private persons then lower salary grades the RTC, DOJ ang nagpo-prosecute. Merong agreement ang DOJ at Ombudsman,&quot; said Remulla.Remulla said plunder cases against those involved in this flood control project mess are &quot;overrated&quot;.&quot;Plunder is overrated as the only case. What is important is you put people behind bars... non-bailable cases,&quot; according to Remulla.&quot;Preliminary investigation pa rin yan. Everything is due process eh. Siyempre naiinip tayo pero sinasabi ko nga, proseso lahat yan. I mean, paano kami nakapag-file ng kaso kay Atong Ang? Tatlong taon ang hinintay namin. After 1 year may nakuha kaming tip. Nakakuha kami ng warrant of arrest pero inabot pa rin ng 3 taon,&quot; Remulla explained.<div></div>

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla believes resigned Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co is not inclined to come home amid allegations that he "masterminded" last-minute insertions in the 2025 national budget.

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla believes resigned Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co is not inclined to come home amid allegations that he "masterminded" last-minute insertions in the 2025 national budget.

Remulla on Zaldy Co: 'I don’t expect him to come home'

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Remulla on Zaldy Co: 'I don’t expect him to come home'

Johnson Manabat,

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 29, 2025 04:28 PM PHT

|

Updated Sep 29, 2025 05:20 PM PHT

Read More:

Jesus Crispin Remulla

DOJ

Rep. Zaldy Co

budget insertions

flood control projects

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