3 accused in flood control mess coordinating with embassies for surrender, says NBI

Three individuals who are accused of involvement in anomalous flood control projects are coordinating with Philippine embassies for their surrender, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Lito Magno said Tuesday. 

Magno said the information came from Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

“Meron na pong surrender feelers ‘yun pong mga nasa ibang bansa,” he said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(There are already surrender feelers from those who are abroad.)

“Katunayan, nabanggit po niya sa isang pahayag niya na ang tatlo ay nagpunta na po, nakipag-coordinate na po sa ating Philippine embassies,” he added.

(In fact, he mentioned in one of his statements that the three have already gone to and coordinated with our Philippine Embassies.)

LIVE sa DZBB: Atty. Lito Magno, director, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)

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The Sandiganbayan has issued arrest warrants against former lawmaker Zaldy Co and 15 others in connection to the complaint filed by the Ombudsman over the alleged anomalous P289-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

Eight individuals are now under custody.

According to Magno, the at-large individuals abroad may voluntarily return to the Philippines.

“Maaaring sila ay makipag-coordinate at sunduin na lang sa ating mga airports. At pwede rin naman po kung nanaisin nila, pwede rin naman po magpadala ang ating gobyerno ng mga law enforcements natin na pwedeng sumundo sa kanila,” he said.

(They may coordinate and simply be picked up at our airports. And it’s also possible, if they so wish, for our government to send our law enforcement personnel to fetch them.)

Meanwhile, he said that the NBI is continuously monitoring Co’s movement. He cited Remulla’s information that Co was last monitored in Japan.

Magno also said that authorities were able to enter Co’s house during the service of the warrant of arrest against him. They found vaults, suitcases, and boxes.

However, he said that they were unable to search this due to a lack of search warrant.

Co has yet to return to the Philippines, citing fears for his safety. He has released a series of videos accusing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez of being behind the corruption.

Both Marcos and Romualdez have denied the allegations.—AOL, GMA Integrated News