Armed rider in viral Taguig-Makati road clash a licensed protection agent – PNP
Metro Manila, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) said the motorcycle rider who went viral for brandishing a gun in a multi-vehicle collision in Taguig and Makati is an unemployed protection agent with a permit to carry a licensed weapon. “Isa po siyang protection agent individual…Nakita natin na meron po siyang license to own and possess firearms,” PBGen Ranulfo Tuaño, public information office chief, said in a briefing on Tuesday, April 28. [Translation: He is a protection agent individual…We saw that he has a license to own and possess firearms.] Tuaño identified the person as Joey Sabando, 51, who obtained his license as a protection agent in 2024 but is not on duty. Sabando has surrendered his firearm to the PNP. Tuaño said the PNP is considering a review of the guidelines in releasing licenses for protection agents. The crash on April 24 involved a sedan, pick-up truck, and…
Co slipped through borders with expired passport – Vida
Metro Manila, Philippines – Fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co used an expired Philippine passport and likely crossed European borders by land, Justice Secretary Frederick Vida said. Vida said Co’s passport expired in September 2022 when authorities caught him, raising questions on how he moves within Europe. “That was the one he was in possession with when he was accosted by the authorities,” Vida said, referring to the expired travel document. He added that Co had been issued multiple passports in the past, including an official passport and another that was canceled by the government. Philippine officials believe Co took advantage of open borders within Europe’s Schengen area, a free-travel zone across 29 European countries, including 25 EU states and four non-EU nations (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) “Definitely he was traveling by land,” Vida said, citing intelligence gathered during the government’s coordination with foreign counterparts. He said authorities have information on…
Zaldy Co no longer in Czech custody, now ‘free’ within Schengen area – DOJ chief
Metro Manila, Philippines – Fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co is on the run again and is believed to be somewhere within Europe’s Schengen zone, Justice Secretary Frederick Vida said Tuesday, April 28. “Czech authorities have informed us that Mr. Zaldy Co is no longer in their custody,” Vida said following meetings with Czech officials. He added that Co “is no longer within the territory of the Czech Republic” and confirmed that he is “not detained,” effectively making him free. “With that information, what we can confirm is that he is within the Schengen area,” Vida said. The justice chief added that authorities could not determine his exact location due to data privacy restrictions and the absence of certain cooperation agreements. The Schengen area is a free-travel zone across 29 European countries, including 25 European Union (EU) states and four non-EU nations (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland). President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced…
Anti-graft court bars Escudero, supporter from leaving PH
Metro Manila, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan has barred Sen. Chiz Escudero and businessman Maynard Ngu from leaving the country in light of the ombudsman’s application for a precautionary hold departure order in relation to the flood control scandal probe. The court’s sixth division released the resolution on Monday, April 27, ordering the Bureau of Immigration to place the two under the hold departure list. Escudero and his friend, campaign contributor Ngu, are facing investigation for graft, plunder, and indirect bribery. At a Senate hearing in November 2025, state witness and former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo mentioned Escudero as among the lawmakers who received flood control kickbacks, supposedly facilitated by Ngu. Escudero denied the accusation that he was a recipient of kickbacks from infrastructure deals. In December, the then Independent Commission for Infrastructure sought an investigative review against Escudero and other lawmakers tagged in the supposed kickback scheme. Early this…
Lacson to publicize flood control findings via privilege speech amid committee report deadlock
Metro Manila, Philippines – Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said he is planning to deliver a privilege speech containing his progress report on the flood control corruption scandal as chairman of the blue ribbon committee, to make public the panel’s partial findings despite lack of signatures for plenary sponsorship. In a series of text messages to NewsWatch Plus on Monday, April 27, Lacson confirmed he has finished drafting the report, which contains a synopsis of the partial committee report and information gathered from past hearings. “Unfortunately, I cannot sponsor the [partial committee] report for interpolation, amendments prior to adoption in plenary of the same due to lack of signatures,” Lacson said. He said he could instead deliver a privilege speech to make the findings part of the public record and pave the way for the resumption of the probe, which has been stalled due to insufficient support for…
