Ombudsman ready to protect Zaldy Co if he returns to PH

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday said his office remains ready to extend protection to former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co should he decide to return to the Philippines.

In a report by Saleema Refran on "24 Oras," Remulla dismissed rumors suggesting that Co had already returned to the country.

“May mga balita noong panahon ng (Nov. 16) rally na umaaligid lang daw sa malapit lang sa Pilipinas but I doubt it, I think psywar yan," Remulla said.

(There were reports during the time of the rally that he was just hovering near the Philippines, but I doubt it. I think that’s just psychological warfare.)

"Kaya natatawa-tawa na lang ako noong sinusubukan—mayroon nagpapatanong sa amin na pauwi na raw. Sabi ko, ‘Eh di umuwi na siya. Mas gusto ko yun di ba? Kaya lang di umuwi eh,” he said. 

(I could only laugh when someone sent us the news that he was on his way back to the country. I just said, ‘Then let them come home.’ I prefer that, right?’ It’s just that he didn’t come home.)

Despite the malversation and graft cases filed against Co before the Sandiganbayan, Remulla said the Ombudsman’s offer of protection remains on the table.

“Kung meron siya ibang kinatatakutan, sabihin nya. Tutulungan namin siya. We do not want anybody to be gone. Syempre, sa amin ibibintang yan kung may mangyari, diba?” he said. 

(If he is afraid of something else, he should say it. We will help him. We do not want anybody to be gone because it will be blamed on us if something happens, right?) 

He outlined the office’s readiness to personally ensure Co’s safety amid speculation that personalities behind the flood control fund scandal want him dead.

“We can go to the tube and pick him up and bring him through a route with a waiting vehicle where somebody he trusts is there, and we can put it all on video, everything happening. We can have body-worn cameras the whole time,” the Ombudsman said.

The Ombudsman has already launched a motu proprio (self-initiated) investigation into individuals named by Co in his social media video series, even without a sworn statement on hand.

Figures under scrutiny include former Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, former Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin, and even President Bongbong Marcos, according to Remulla.

“Well, we have to look if it's possible na nangyari yun. It's something that we have to look at. Kasi logical flow lahat yan eh. It has to be believable in the first place,” he said.

(We have to see if it’s possible that it happened. It’s something we have to look at. It has to be logical and believable in the first place.)

Remulla said he had been monitoring former Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin’s activities even during his tenure as Justice Secretary.

“May naranasan kami sa DOJ na tila siya ang nakialam sa appointment process. At yan I took it against many people who were responsible for that.

(We experienced something in the DOJ where it seemed he interfered with the appointment process. I took issue with many people responsible for that. We choose our prosecutors based on confidence, and some appointments were made without consulting us,” he said.

According to Remulla, the ongoing investigation points to a possible conspiracy to commit plunder involving Bersamin, former Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, and former Department of Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar.

The DOJ is exploring the possibility of admitting Bernardo as a state witness, as he allegedly offered to return ill-gotten funds to the government.

The Ombudsman is also preparing to issue subpoenas to senators facing complaints. Currently, only Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva have formal complaints filed against them by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

Remulla emphasized the office’s commitment to transparency, saying he intends to livestream the preliminary investigations.

“We will do it. We’re just making the rules. Don’t worry. We want to be as transparent as ever,” he said.—Vince Angelo Ferreras/MCG, GMA Integrated News