ICI initiated operation seizing Co-linked luxury cars

MANILA, Philippines — The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) received a tip during the holiday season that 15 luxury cars, owned by companies linked to fugitive ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co, were parked in a condominium building in Taguig.

The ICI, which by then was already crippled with the resignation of a second commissioner, immediately reached out to relevant agencies to seize these vehicles.

“Coordination from concerned agencies like the Land Transportation Office (LTO) was done by the ICI, after which the result of verifications was relayed to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to act on it,” ICI special adviser Rodolfo Azurin Jr. told The STAR yesterday.

After verification, the BOC found nine cars lacked proper documentation and had unpaid taxes and dues, the ICI said.

On Thursday night authorities executed search warrants, issued by First Vice Executive Judge Rosalyn Mislos-Loja of the Metro Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 41, and confiscated a total of 12 luxury cars.

Eight of these cars are covered by the warrants, while four were seized by the Highway Patrol Group (HPG)  after investigators found multiple violations. All of the vehicles are under the ICI’s temporary safekeeping in its Taguig office due to a lack of space in the BOC compound.

It’s the first major operation initiated by the ICI in 2026, amid rumors that the fact-finding body could already cease to exist.

Mislos-Loja issued nine warrants for violation of Section 1401 in relation to Sections 102 and 113 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, naming four Co-linked firms and a certain individual as respondents: Sunwest Construction and Development Corp., Eco Leisure and Hospitality Holding Co. Inc., Misibis Resort and Hotel Management Inc., La Venezia Hotel and Spa Inc. and one Jalandoni Alay Flora.

Besides improper documentation and unpaid taxes, the BOC also found another “red flag.”

“Even the bulletproofing done in the vehicles is on a different level, and that was not declared,” BOC deputy chief of staff Chris Noel Bendijo said.

Only eight of the cars covered by the warrants were seized. Authorities said the ninth car left the condominium premises on Thursday morning, possibly indicating a leak about the operation.

Seized vehicles include three Cadillacs, two Lexuses, a Mercedes-Benz, a Rolls-Royce and a Toyota Sequoia, with an estimated total value of P145 million.

The HPG, for its part, confiscated two Lexuses, a Ferrari and a GMC.

Based on the police report, Sunwest, the contractor founded by Co and allegedly linked to anomalous flood works, is the name registered to a Cadillac, a Lexus and a Mercedes-Benz.

Another Cadillac and a Rolls-Royce are registered under the name of Eco Leisure, an investment holdings firm that owns hotels like Midas.

A Toyota Sequoia and the second Lexus are linked to La Venezia, based in Legazpi City and Co’s first tourism property.

Misibis Resort, the Albay-based private island resort operating under Eco Leisure, owns the third Cadillac.

It’s unclear what car is registered under Jalandoni Alay Flora.

Asked what they found inside the vehicles, Azurin said, “just empty boxes.”

Ruy Rondain, Co’s legal counsel, claimed authorities carried out a separate operation from Wednesday midnight to Thursday.

“There was an illegal stop and search of my client’s vehicles; they took the keys of 34 cars,” Rondain told reporters on Friday. “That was forced because they intimidated the drivers and detained them for over 12 hours.”

Rondain stressed that if the warrants used during Thursday night’s operation were obtained “after the fact,” they could not justify the “illegal searches” that happened earlier.

Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said yesterday they are applying for search warrants for other vehicles allegedly connected with Co. — Emmanuel Tupas, Bella Cariaso