Ched Rick Gatchalian

The vehicles linked to Zaldy Co were transferred to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) compound in Taguig for temporary safekeeping after the BOC implemented a court-issued search warrant at a condominium parking facility. Bea Cuadra, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

NP-HPG denies 'illegal detention' allegation during ops vs alleged Zaldy Co's luxury cars

Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — PNP-Highway Patrol Group acting director PBGen. Hansel Marantan on Wednesday denied allegations of Atty. Ruy Rondain, legal counsel of former Rep. Zaldy Co, that there was illegal detention of drivers during its operation wherein several luxury vehicles have been confiscated.</p><p>On Wednesday, PNP-HPG acting director PBGen. Hansel Marantan met with Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) officials and discussed details of confiscated vehicles which are now temporarily parked at the ICI compound.</p><p>He also questioned the intention of Rondain.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/13/boc-ici-defend-search-seizure-of-luxury-vehicles-linked-to-zaldy-co-1716">BOC, ICI defend search, seizure of luxury vehicles linked to Zaldy Co</a></div><p>“Hindi ko maintindihan, sino ba nire-represent ni Atty. Rondain? Saan ba siya nag-enter ng appearance don? Akala ko ba lawyer siya ni Cong. Zaldy Co? Eh hindi naman si Congressman Zaldy Co ang dinetain ah, assuming that there is such,” Marantan said after a closed door meeting with the ICI.</p><p>“To my knowledge, wala namang na-detain,” Marantan added.</p><p>Marantan also said the operation stemmed from a tip the agency received last December 21, 2025 that there were motor vehicles in a parking space of a condominium in BGC with spurious documents, as well as alleged contrabands.</p><p>“We joined the implementation of the search warrant. Incidentally nandon naman yung mga motor vehicles na hinahanap namin, kulang pa nga. Sampu dapat yung makukuha namin, apat lang yung na-impound momentarily,” Marantan explained.</p><p>“Ang report kasi sa&#x27;min mga firearms. Pero obviously wala namang fireams doon. But just the same, wala namang nagpapakilalang mga owners doon kaya we deemed it proper na i-impound na lang momentarily at binigyan na lang ng mga resibo yung mga motor vehicles at mga lawyers doon. Nagpakilalang lawyers of the building, so we gave them the TIR, so wala namang resistance doon,” he added.</p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/11/pnp-seizure-of-luxury-cars-linked-to-zaldy-co-followed-procedure-1143">PNP: Seizure of luxury cars linked to Zaldy Co followed procedure</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>ZALDY CO-LINKED VEHICLES</strong></div><p>Marantan also said the HPG has identified the registered owner of luxury vehicles it confiscated during an operation in a condominium building in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig last January 8, earlier linked to Co.</p><p>Last January 8, the Bureau of Customs (BOC), HPG, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Southern Police District (SPD), and Taguig City Police took custody of luxury vehicles including a Rolls-Royce, three Cadillac Escalades, two Lexus units, one Mercedes-Benz, and one Toyota Sequoia.</p><p>Although initially linked to Co, ICI special adviser Rodolfo Azurin at that time said they were determining the ownership of the vehicles.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/8/authorities-seize-some-of-zaldy-co-s-luxury-vehicles-2016">Authorities seize alleged luxury vehicles of Zaldy Co</a></div><p>Marantan on Wednesday said they have identified the names to whom some of the vehicles were registered, but he refused to disclose more details.</p><p>“Na-establish na namin kung sino yung mga may-ari and we’re going deeper don sa verifications, so nagpu-pullout records na kami dun sa mga other documents of the said motor vehicles para makapagbigay kami ng report sa inyo,” Marantan told reporters.</p><p>Marantan refused to name the registered owners of said vehicles but said that these are not under the name of Co.</p><p>“Merong report doon most specially…these are all luxury vehicles - sa ngayon, can I refrain from mentioning their names for their security also - hindi naman ito nakalista kay Cong. Zaldy Co…hindi ko alam bakit kung ano-ano sinasabi ng lawyer niya, hindi naman nakapangalan sa kanya,” Marantan said.</p><p>According to Marantan, the PNP-HPG will now going to coordinate with the registered owner of these luxury vehicles.</p><p>He added that the PNP-HPG is willing to release the confiscated vehicles to its rightful owner but he said, as of now nobody has come forward to claim these vehicles.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TfCCAbHrhYg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>PNP-Highway Patrol Group acting director PBGen. Hansel Marantan on Wednesday denied allegations of Atty. Ruy Rondain, legal counsel of former Rep. Zaldy Co, that there was illegal detention of drivers during its operation wherein several luxury vehicles have been confiscated.</p>

PNP-Highway Patrol Group acting director PBGen. Hansel Marantan on Wednesday denied allegations of Atty. Ruy Rondain, legal counsel of former Rep. Zaldy Co, that there was illegal detention of drivers during its operation wherein several luxury vehicles have been confiscated.

PNP-HPG denies 'illegal detention' allegations during ops vs Zaldy Co's luxury cars

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

PNP-HPG denies 'illegal detention' allegations during ops vs Zaldy Co's luxury cars

Johnson Manabat,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 14, 2026 06:15 PM PHT

Read More:

ICI

PNP-HPG

Zaldy Co

Luxury cars

Hansel Marantan

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.