DOJ probe timeline not affected by Zaldy Co's revelations, says spokesperson

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said the “tell-all” video message of former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co would not affect the timeline of its investigation into alleged irregularities in the flood control projects of the government.

“With respect to that video, specifically, nothing changes; by that I mean we will proceed in accordance with the rules. We have 60 days to terminate and accomplish the preliminary investigation from today,” DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez said in an interview with reporters on Friday.

In Co’s first video released on Friday, the former lawmaker tagged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former Speaker Martin Romualdez as the ones behind the insertion of P100 billion worth of projects in the 2025 national budget during the bicameral conference.

In his second video released Saturday, Co claimed that he, along with his staff and security guards, personally delivered suitcases of cash to the President and Romualdez. The former House appropriations committee chairperson further alleged that Marcos received a quarter of the P100 billion as kickbacks.

In a text message, Martinez said that “Zaldy Co’s statements will have to undergo the routine evidentiary procedures with the DOJ before they can be considered and held admissible.”

“If the statements are intended to form part of criminal charges, they have to be attached to a criminal complaint. If the video is intended to form part of already existing evidence in the pending proceedings, it will have to be filed and then authenticated in accordance with the rules on evidence,” the DOJ spokesperson said.

The DOJ is conducting a preliminary investigation into the first batch of five ghost flood control projects in Bulacan. Martinez said the respondents have 10 days from November 14 to file their counter-affidavits.

The department initially referred its recommendation to file graft, malversation, perjury, and falsification of public documents charges against officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Bulacan First District Engineering Office and several contractors to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla later returned the recommendation against the respondents and deputized the DOJ to conduct the preliminary investigation and file the cases. —VBL, GMA Integrated News