MANILA — Three helicopters linked to Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co were reportedly subject to deregistration attempts by firms tied to the embattled lawmaker, in what is suspected to be a move to sell the air assets to foreign buyers.

This was revealed by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, citing a report he received from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), which he said has since placed the deregistration applications on hold.

“Mayroon nang tatlong kumpanya na sumubok na mag-deregister ng tatlong helicopter na related kay Congressman Zaldy Co,” Dizon said in a September 29 interview with Ted Failon & DJ Chacha over News5.

“Misibis Aviation at mayroon pa pong isa. Pero ito po ay napigilan at naka-hold po ‘yung application for deregistration,” he added.

Dizon earlier requested the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to issue a freeze order on nine aircraft worth approximately USD 82.59 million (around P4.7 billion), which he said were registered under companies linked to Co.

Co has been accused by witnesses in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into alleged corruption in flood control projects of receiving P519 million in kickbacks from 426 supposed projects in Bulacan between 2022 and 2025.

In his letter to the AMLC requesting the freeze order, Dizon identified the following air assets linked to Co, including their model and estimated value:

Model/Est. Value per Unit (USD)/Est. Value (PHP)

● Gulfstream 350
$36 million (P2.07 billion)
● Agusta Westland AW1398
(2 units) $16 million (P919.16 million)
● Bell 407 (2 units)
$3 million (P172 million)
● Bell 206B3
$650 thousand (P37.3 million)
● Cessna 414A Chancellor $700 thousand (P40.2 million)
● Augusta A109E
$6.9 million (P396.3 million)
● PA 31-350 Chieftain
$340 thousand (P19.5 million)

Six of the identified aircraft, with a total value of USD 74.65 million (around P4.29 billion), were registered under Misibis Aviation & Development Corporation, which Dizon tagged as a firm led by Co’s son, Michael Ellis.

The remaining three aircraft, worth USD 7.94 million (approximately P456 million), were registered under Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corporation, owned by Co’s brother, Christopher Co.

Dizon said he suspects that the companies intend to sell the air assets to foreign buyers.

“Kung mayroon pong gustong bumili na foreigner sa ibang bansa, ang first step diyan bago mag-transact o bago magbentahan o bilihan, kailangan ma-deregister muna sa original na bansa kung saan naka-register itong mga eroplano at helicopter na ito… bago mag-umpisa ‘yung proseso ng pagbebenta sa ibang bansa,” Dizon explained.

“Klaro ang intensyon niya po — nung mga kumpanya na related kay Congressman Zaldy Co — ay magbenta na,” he stressed.

Dizon said CAAP’s decision to place the deregistration applications on hold is a welcome development, as the air assets have not yet been frozen.

He clarified that the aircraft may only be frozen through a court ruling. “Ang mag-freeze niyan ay via court through the AMLC. Nasa Department of Justice na rin at Independent Commission for Infrastructure,” he said.

“Napigilan natin ang pag-deregister at mayroong order sa CAAP ngayon na ‘wag munang mag-deregister, mapipigilan natin ang pagbebenta sa mga asset na ‘yan,” Dizon concluded.

Request for Interpol Blue Notice

Meanwhile, Malacañang said Monday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has requested the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to issue a blue notice for Co, who reportedly traveled to the U.S.A. for a medical procedure.

The blue notice will allow authorities to monitor Co’s overseas location and movements. He was reported to have traveled from the U.S.A. to Spain, Singapore, and then to France.

The DOJ clarified that a blue notice is an Interpol alert used to gather information about a person’s identity, location, or activities in relation to a crime. It differs from a red notice, which is issued to locate individuals for arrest.

Resignation from the House

In related developments, Co resigned on Monday as a member of the House of Representatives.

The lawmaker posted on his Facebook account a copy of his resignation letter sent to Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III dated September 29, which stated:

“On the account of the real, direct, grave and imminent threat to the lives of my family and me, and the evident denial of my right to due process of law, I am constrained to tender with immediate effect my irrevocable resignation as a member of the House of Representatives.”

ICI Recommends Filing of Charges Against Co, DPWH Officials

Co’s resignation came in the wake of a recommendation from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to the Office of the Ombudsman for the possible filing of graft, malversation, and falsification charges against him and several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Oriental Mindoro.

The ICI cited in its recommendation the P289.5 million road dike project along the Mag-Asawang Tubig River in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka said the DPWH Region IV-B implemented the flood management project through contractor Sunwest Inc., which has been linked to Co.

The DPWH officials listed in the recommendation include MIMAROPA Regional Director Engr. Gerald Pacanan, Assistant Regional Directors Gene Ryan Altea and Ruben Santos Jr., and ten others.

📷 Zaldy Co FB