Freeze Sought on ₱4.7-B aircraft linked to Co, ₱470-M vehicles tied to others in flood control scandal
Reggie Desuyo September 24, 2025 at 05:08 PM
MANILA — Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has requested the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to freeze airplanes and helicopters worth $82.59 million (approximately ₱4.7 billion) registered to companies linked to Ako Bicol party-list Representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, along with ₱470 million worth of vehicles traced to other individuals allegedly involved in corruption-tainted flood control projects.
Co has been implicated in the anomaly, including his alleged request for—and receipt of—₱519 million in kickbacks from ₱35.02 billion in budget insertions for 426 supposed projects in Bulacan from 2022 to 2025.
The Co-linked construction company Sunwest Inc. is also reportedly behind five of seven substandard flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro.
In a press conference at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) office in Manila on September 24, 2025, Dizon said the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) submitted to him a list of air assets registered to Misibis Aviation & Development Corp., which is led by Rep. Co’s son, Michael Ellis.
A total of $74.65 million worth of aircraft—including a $36-million Gulfstream 350 and a $16-million Agusta Westland AW1399—were found to be registered to the company.
Additionally, a $6.9-million Augusta A109E and other aircraft worth a total of $7.94 million were found to be registered to Hi-Tone Construction and Development Corp., owned by Christopher Co, Rep. Co’s brother.
Rep. Co is reportedly in the United States on medical leave.
Dizon also cited a $2-million Bell 505 aircraft registered under QM Builders, one of the top 15 contractors flagged by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. The company is led by Allan Quirante.
Freeze orders were also requested by the DPWH for 112 vehicles worth nearly ₱500 million, registered to various individuals including contractors and DPWH officials allegedly involved in the anomalous flood control projects.
These vehicles include luxury cars owned by Curlee and Sarah Discaya, valued at over ₱277 million, and those of dismissed Bulacan First District Assistant Engineer Brice Hernandez, worth more than ₱35 million.
The 112 vehicles, valued at ₱474,483,120.00, are registered to 26 individuals named in the ongoing investigation into the flood control scandal.
The lists of aircraft and vehicles are among the documents being compiled by the DPWH as part of its investigation.
Dizon previously requested the CAAP, Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Registration Authority (LRA), and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to provide the DPWH with a full inventory of aircraft, motor vehicles, and water vessels registered under the names of the implicated individuals.
The DPWH, he said, is submitting these lists to the AMLC for appropriate action, as well as to the bodies conducting the investigations, particularly the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“Sabi ng Pangulo bawiin ang pera ng taumbayan, at kasama na po ito [aircraft and land motor vehicles]. Hindi kami titigil hanggang hindi nababawi ang pera ng taumbayan,” Dizon vowed.
Rep. Zaldy Co FB