The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday maintained that the seizure of several luxury vehicles allegedly linked to former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co was lawful and conducted in accordance with established procedures, dismissing claims by Co’s lawyer that the operation was illegal.
PNP chief Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the operation complied with orders from proper authorities and followed due process.
“The operation was in compliance with an order from proper authorities. We want to assure the public that all actions of the Philippine National Police are legal and in accordance with the law,” Nartatez said in a press release.
The statement came after Co’s legal counsel, Ruy Rondain, earlier claimed that authorities failed to present a search warrant during the operation and unlawfully detained Co’s driver for more than 12 hours.
According to Rondain, police allegedly conducted an illegal stop, forcibly took the keys to dozens of vehicles, and intimidated the driver.
“Illegal yan, because number one, nag-illegal stop and search sila nung kotse nung kliyente… tapos kinuha nila yung susi ng I think 34 cars, puwersado ha, inintimidate nila yung driver nung kliyente, pagkatapos dinetained nila yung mga driver ng over 12 hours,” Rondain said.
However, the PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG) earlier said police, together with personnel from the Bureau of Customs (BOC), were implementing a valid search warrant during the operation.
HPG Director Police Brig. Gen. Hansel Marantan said some of the vehicles had been reported as spurious and were suspected of containing contraband.
“There are also motor vehicles reported to the HPG as spurious, with suspected contraband inside — that’s why we are here,” Marantan said.
The Bureau of Customs also confirmed that the warrant was presented to and received by legal counsels representing the multi-level parking facility in Taguig City where the vehicles were seized.
On January 8, joint teams from the PNP, BOC, and Land Transportation Office conducted a raid at a condominium building in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, and confiscated several high-end vehicles allegedly connected to Co.
Among those seized were a Rolls-Royce, Toyota Sequoia, Cadillac Escalade, and a Lexus model.
Nartatez said the PNP’s involvement in the operation was part of its commitment to assist in the investigation and enforcement of legal orders related to the ongoing probe into alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
“From the start, we have already committed to provide assistance in the investigation and enforcement of all legal orders in relation to the flood control issue,” he said.
Co, a former chair of the House appropriations committee, is a central figure in the controversy surrounding alleged corruption in flood control funds. He has denied involvement in so-called “ghost” flood control projects and has accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez of being linked to corruption in the projects.
The former lawmaker has remained abroad, citing security concerns, and resigned from his post after the House of Representatives canceled his travel authority and ordered him to return to the Philippines.