Zaldy Co’s last known address refuses to receive Ombudsman’s order to reply to flood control raps
MANILA, Philippines — Former Rep. Zaldy Co (Ako Bicol Partylist) refused to receive the Ombudsman’s order to file a counter-affidavit, the office said.
In a press briefing on Monday, November 3, the Ombudsman said the order may have been delivered to Co’s last known residence, but those who received it on his behalf still refused to accept it.
"An order to file (a) counter-affidavit was given to Elizaly S. Co, but the recipient refused to accept," Clavano said in a press briefing with reporters.
According to Clavano, the order requiring Co to answer the complaints against him is deemed filed and if he did not respond within the period prescribed by law, he is considered to have been in "default."
"If the periods had already lapsed, then we will consider the person, in this case, former Congressman Zaldy S. Co, as in default," he said.
If a respondent is declared in default, Clavano explained that the prosecutor will then use all submitted documents, including the complainant's affidavit, as the sole basis for the resolution.
The Ombudsman is conducting multiple investigations into Co, the founder of Sunwest Realty and Development Corporation, concerning his role in the alleged anomalous flood control project.
The counter-affidavit that Co must respond to is from the case the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) filed before the Office of the Ombudsman on September 29.
The ICI asked the Ombudsman to file criminal and administrative charges against Co and 17 others over the alleged anomalous flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro.
The criminal charges asked by the ICI to be filed include violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents by a public officer under the Revised Penal Code and violations of the Government Procurement Reform Act.
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