PH gov't open to possible talks with Zaldy Co

The Philippine government is "open" to a supposed dialogue with former lawmaker Zaldy Co, who has an arrest warrant in connection with the P289 million project in Oriental Mindoro. 

During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked if the government is open to having talks with Co, who was declared as a ''fugitive from justice.''

''Sa ating pagkakarinig, siya po ay nais makipagugnayan sa Ombudsman,'' Castro said.

(From what I heard, he wants to get in touch with the Ombudsman.)

''At ang sabi din naman din po, even before ng Ombudsman na ang lahat ng proteksyon na kailangan niya ay ibibigay at kung ito po ay makakatulong para malaman natin ang katotohanan, ang gobyerno, ang pamahalaan ay open po para malaman kung ano ang kanyang sasabihin,'' she added. 

(It was mentioned even before that the Ombudsman ensured that he will be protected and if this will help in knowing the truth, the government is open to know what he will divulge.)

Asked what parameters should be in place in case this dialogue happens, Castro said it would depend on the Office of the Ombudsman, adding that President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. wants the truth to come out amid this flood control controversy.

Castro, however, clarified that Co has not reached out yet if he wants to talk to the President or to the administration.

''Wala pa po naman siyang binibigay na suggestion na siya'y makikipagusap sa Pangulo o sa administrasyon,'' Castro said.

(He hasn't given any suggestion yet if he wants to talk to the President or to the administration.)

Co has accused Marcos and his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez of receiving up to P56 billion in kickbacks from alleged anomalous flood control projects.

Malacañang, however, quickly dismissed Co's allegations as "lies." Romualdez also denied the accusations.

It was Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla who disclosed that Co had allegedly sent feelers to priests for a dialogue.

Remulla, however, said this was not verified and the information was only passed through word of mouth.

The Ombudsman earlier filed corruption and malversation of public funds charges against Co and others with the Sandiganbayan. These charges were in connection with the alleged anomalous P289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

Co has since denied the allegations against him.

Remulla recently said Co was staying in a gated community in Lisbon, Portugal. —VAL, GMA Integrated News