Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the cancellation of resigned Rep. Zaldy Co’s passport as the government intensifies its crackdown on anomalies in flood control projects, vowing that anyone involved in corrupt practices cannot escape prosecution.

In a recorded address released on Wednesday, Dec. 10, Marcos said the cancellation aims to prevent Co – believed to be hiding in Portugal – from fleeing the country as he faces multiple criminal charges filed before the Sandiganbayan.

The president said he has instructed the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine National Police to coordinate with Philippine embassies abroad to ensure Co cannot hide or enter other jurisdictions undetected.

“In-instruction-an ko na ang DFA, pati ang PNP, na makipag-ugnayan sa ating mga embassies… para tiyakin na hindi maaaring magtago,” Marcos said.

[Translation: I have instructed the DFA and PNP to work with our embassies… to ensure he cannot hide.]

He added that countries should immediately notify Manila if Co attempts to travel so authorities can bring him back to the Philippines.

Co, former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways Region 4, and executives of Sunwest Inc. were charged with one count of malversation of public funds through falsification of documents and two counts of graft under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Marcos also confirmed that government contractor Sarah Discaya, another respondent in the flood control cases, surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday pending the formal issuance of an arrest warrant.

“Nakikita po natin, maganda naman ang takbo ng proseso,” he said. [Translation: We can see that the process is moving well.]