Metro Manila, Philippines – Police officers in Albay province have served warrants of arrest against those accused of graft and malversation charges linked to the first batch of cases in the flood control corruption scandal.
Arrest warrants have been issued against former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, various officials of the Department of Works and Public Highways (DPWH) Mimaropa, and Sunwest Inc. officers over a substandard P290-million road dike in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
The Albay police provincial office said police personnel attempted to serve the warrants against Co and members of the Sunwest board of directors at the company’s address in Legazpi City on Saturday, Nov. 22.
Police also served the warrant against Co at his last known address in Sto. Domingo.
According to media reports, the police also went to the ex-lawmaker’s condominium in Taguig City.
Co is currently outside of the country.
Authorities attempted to implement the warrant against Noel Cao, a member of the Sunwest board of directors, at his address in Guinobatan, as well as Gene Ryan Altea, DPWH Mimaropa assistant regional director, in Daraga. They were not present during the service of the warrant.
“Legal na obligasyon ng mga awtoridad na i-serve ang warrant sa huling kilalang tirahan ng akusado, kahit pa malinaw na wala na siya roon,” the Albay police provincial office explained.
[Translation: It is the legal obligation of the authorities to serve the warrants in the last known addresses of the accused, even if it’s clear they are not present there.]
The court may issue an alias warrant if law enforcement officers fail to execute the original warrant.
On Saturday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said it instructed the Philippine National Police to implement the warrants “properly and in full accordance with the law,” adding that due process will be observed.
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure said at least 1,200 people may be held liable in anomalous flood control projects as the body zeroes in on 80 questionable deals.
