Zaldy Co's passport canceled – Marcos

The passport of fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co has been canceled, President Marcos announced yesterday, as he ordered agencies to coordinate with embassies to prevent him from further eluding authorities.

- By ALEXIS ROMERO

President Marcos leads the groundbreaking of the Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Complex in Nueva Ecija yesterday.

Co, who resigned as representative of the Ako Bicol party-list, is facing an arrest warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan in connection with a questionable flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said the cancellation of the passport, which took effect at 5 p.m. yesterday, was in accordance with the directive from the Sandiganbayan and in compliance with Marcos' order.

Also ordered arrested were at least 15 other people from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and construction firm Sunwest Corp., for graft and malversation of public funds.

"I am reporting to you that the passport of Zaldy Co has been canceled," the President said in a video statement.

"I have instructed the Department of Foreign Affairs and the PNP (Philippine National Police) to coordinate with our embassies to ensure that the one we are running after will not be able to hide in their country. In case he goes there, they should report to us so we can bring him back to the Philippines," he added.