Tiangco urges DFA to revoke Zaldy Co’s passport, calls him ‘national threat’

Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco on Friday described former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co as a “national threat” and urged the government to revoke his Philippine passports on grounds of national security.

In a television interview, Tiangco called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to cancel Co’s passport pursuant to Republic Act 11983, or the New Philippine Passport Act.

“For me, it is a national security issue. With the huge number of people rallying and getting angry, isn't that a national security issue? For me, it could be. That's what I'm saying—why don't they want to remove it?” Tiangco said.

The lawmaker added that either President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. or the DFA secretary has the authority to cancel Co’s passport at any time.

“The secretary of the DFA, even without order from the President, can do it. The question is, why are they not doing it?” Tiangco said.

He warned that inaction could allow the former congressman to obtain another passport from another country and evade accountability in controversies linked to alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

Furthermore, Tiangco argued that the government’s hesitation to revoke Co’s passport only fuels public suspicion.

“The people's suspicion is that maybe they really don't want Zaldy to return home. Cong., maybe they don't want Zaldy to return home because he might point fingers. I want him to return home so that this suspicion in people's minds can be erased,” he said.

Tiangco previously revealed the insertion of billions of pesos in flood control projects after attending a Malacañang meeting on March 24, where he was asked to present a list of projects backed by lawmakers.

He discovered that Co allegedly inserted P13.8 billion worth of projects in various Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) districts. Co was then chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations before resigning after the passage of the budget.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla recently said Co’s case may be the first flood control case from their agency to reach the Sandiganbayan, noting it is already submitted for resolution.

Co’s case is among the first batch endorsed for investigation by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) in September, involving a P289.5-million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro awarded to Sunwest Construction, a company linked to Co.

The DPWH earlier announced that it will file charges against the company owned by Co’s brother, Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp., over a seawall that collapsed in Navotas City at the height of Super Typhoon Uwan.

According to DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, the agency will pursue legal action to recover government funds and ensure contractor accountability.