DPWH to AMLC: Freeze P4.3 billion worth of Zaldy Co planes, choppers

As part of efforts to recover supposed ill-gotten assets of personalities linked to the flood control projects scandal, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is requesting the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to freeze billions of pesos worth of air assets registered to companies related to Ako Bicol party-list Representative Elizaldy "Zaldy" Co and his brother Christopher Co.

At a press conference in Manila on Wednesday, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) submitted a list of air assets registered to Misibis Aviation & Development Corp., which is led by Zaldy Co's son Michael Ellis.

A total of $74.650 million worth of aircraft (about P4.3 billion in the current exchange rate), including a $36-million Gulfstream 350 and $16-million Agusta Westland AW1399 are registered under Misibis Aviation.

During the briefing, Dizon said that “a total of P4.7 billion” or “nearly P5 billion” were the registered air assets related to Co.

Christopher Co's Hi-Tone Construction and Development Corp., meanwhile, has a total of $7.940 million worth of registered air assets with the CAAP such as a $6.9-million Augusta A109E.

In a related development, the DPWH also requested a freeze on a $2-million Bell 505 aircraft registered under QM Builders, which is among the top 15 contractors flagged by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., led by a certain Allan Quirante.

GMA News Online has requested comment from the offices of Zaldy Co, Hi-Tone Construction and Development Corp., and QM Builders regarding the matter. They have yet to respond as of posting time.

To recall, the DPWH has already requested the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Registration Authority (LRA), CAAP, and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to hand the agency a full inventory of motor vehicles, lands, water vessels and even aircraft registered under the names of DPWH officials and several contractors. 

Dizon said the DPWH is submitting the list of the air assets to the AMLC for possible freezing of assets.

"Hindi kami titigil hanggang hindi nababawi ang pera ng taumbayan (We will not stop until the people's money has been recovered)," the DPWH chief said.

The Public Works chief said the list will also be submitted to the Department of Justice and the Independent Commission on Infrastructure to aid in the ongoing probe into the flood control projects anomalies.

"Sabi ng Pangulo bawiin ang pera ng taumbayan at kasama na po ito (The President has instructed to recover the people's money, and this is part of it)," Dizon said. — VDV/RF, GMA Integrated News