THE camp of fugitive Zaldy Co on Tuesday denied claims that the resigned party-list congressman at the center of the flood control bribery scandal had sent feelers to the government to initiate talks, contradicting earlier statements by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.
In an interview, Co’s legal counsel, Ruy Rondain, said his client did not authorize any communication or overtures to any government official, including the Office of the Ombudsman.
“There were no feelers sent. My client did not reach out to the administration in any form,” Rondain said, adding that Co himself confirmed he did not send any emissaries to communicate with Remulla on his behalf.
Rondain also dismissed reports that Co was offering to return alleged ill-gotten wealth in exchange for negotiations, insisting that there was nothing to return.
“There is no restitution because there was no money taken in the first place,” the lawyer said, maintaining that Co did not steal public funds, including those allegedly linked to flood control projects.
He further claimed that Co has been issuing video statements to present his side and “help the country” by exposing supposed corruption involving high-ranking government officials, but said these have not been acknowledged by the current administration.
Rondain said Co is prepared to return to the Philippines to personally face the allegations against him and clear his name, but only once there is no longer any threat to his personal safety.
“I recently spoke with him, and he assured me that he intends to come home under safer conditions,” Rondain said.
The lawyer reiterated that Co is not engaged in any form of negotiation with authorities and is not seeking concessions in exchange for his return.
Earlier, Ombudsman Remulla said several persons had approached him claiming to be close to Co and expressing interest in opening a line of communication with the government.
Remulla said he rejected the overtures, stressing that Co must first return the “billions of pesos” allegedly taken from public funds as a sign of sincerity before any dialogue could take place.
Co, who has been in hiding abroad since July 2025, continues to elude arrest. The National Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday admitted that there is still no Interpol Red Notice issued against Co, meaning international law enforcement agencies have not yet been requested to locate or arrest him in the country where he is believed to be hiding.
Blacklist
Meanwhile more than 60 contractors linked to anomalous flood control projects may be blacklisted from joining government procurement activities, Malacañang said Thursday.
Citing a statement from the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said 16 companies were facing possible blacklisting over their alleged links to anomalous flood control projects, while four have already had their licenses revoked.
Castro said the move targeted contractors involved in allegedly anomalous infrastructure projects, including substandard work, overpricing and delayed delivery.
“However, the president said that even if some contractors are blacklisted, the continuous implementation of infrastructure projects in our country will not be affected, because there are still many contractors who can be considered competent and reliable,” Castro said during a press conference.
Castro said the president believed that the move would open the door for honest and capable contractors to be paid promptly.
“This was the president’s directive during the most recent meeting with the economic team. Therefore, contractors and those in the industry need not be afraid to negotiate and transact with the government, because the president has promised that all contractors who do quality work will be paid,” she said.
On Monday, Marcos ordered government agencies to promptly pay contractors who have completed infrastructure projects under their contracts.
Castro said the president’s order aimed to help revitalize the infrastructure industry while ensuring accountability in public spending.
“And this is one of the president’s orders, to ensure that contractors who have performed well and responsibly for the country are paid. This is also an order needed to help revitalize the infrastructure industry,” she said.
The Palace official said there was no timeline on the release of payment to contractors, but the president wanted it to be done as soon as possible.
She also explained that the payment was not immediately released to some contractors due the review of ongoing projects, both those that were delivered properly and those tagged as ghost projects.
The directive also called for stronger coordination between national and local government units to oversee infrastructure projects effectively, Castro said.