Tag: Zaldy Co

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Lacson Weighs ‘Believability’ of Ex-Soldiers’ Cash Delivery Story

The math doesn’t lie – and right now, the story of 18 ex-military men on supposedly delivering P805 billion in cash to certain individuals still doesn’t add up, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Monday.

A still-wary Lacson said that if all the details of the 18 ex-soldiers were true, those behind the cash delivery scheme would not have finished their deliveries until 2028 at the earliest.

“Even as we speak, I continue to fact-check the claims. It would be hard to call a hearing if these were lacking in believability,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino, in an interview on DZMM radio.

In Filipino: Lacson, Tinitimbang ang ‘Believability’ ng Kuwento ng mga Dating Sundalo sa Paghahatid ng Pera

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Lacson Scrutinizes Alleged Cash Delivery Scheme Involving Ex-Military Men

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson has begun scrutinizing an alleged scheme involving former military personnel who allegedly delivered large sums of cash to ranking public officials, supposedly upon the instructions of ex-Rep. Elizaldy Co.

Lacson, who initiated the preliminary checks ahead of the formal filing of a Senate resolution directing the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to investigate the matter, noted two key areas that need further checking.

“We will evaluate first the source of information, which in this case are the 18 alleged Marine personnel who appeared at a press conference last Tuesday. Second is the reliability or credibility of the information itself, meaning the content of their affidavit,” said Lacson, who chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

In Filipino: Lacson, Sinusuri ang Umano’y Cash Delivery Scheme na Kinasasangkutan ng mga Ex-Militar

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Lacson: SolGen May Ask SC Review of Fugitive Disentitlement Doctrine in Zaldy Co, Atong Ang Cases

Government lawyers may seek a review of the Supreme Court’s “fugitive disentitlement doctrine” to help them further limit the legal options of fugitives like Ex-Rep. Elizaldy Co and trader Charlie “Atong” Ang, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday.

This was after Co’s camp claimed the doctrine – embodied in the Supreme Court’s Nov. 25, 2025 ruling (GR 259337), clarifying the rules on fugitive status and barring them from judicial relief unless conditions are satisfied – does not apply to him.

“Paging SolGen (Solicitor General): It may be wise to ask the Court to revisit the ‘fugitive disentitlement doctrine’ in GR 259337 dtd Nov. 25, 2025 that refined Miranda vs Tuliao in relation to the cases of Zaldy Co and Atong Ang,” Lacson said on X.

In Filipino: Lacson: Maaaring Hilingin ng SolGen sa SC ang Pagrepaso sa Fugitive Disentitlement Doctrine sa Kaso nina Zaldy Co, Atong Ang

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Lacson: Measures Empowering Ombudsman Among Blue Ribbon’s Partial Recommendations on Flood Control Mess

Proposed legislation to strengthen the fight against corruption by empowering the Office of the Ombudsman will be among the partial recommendations of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee following its investigation into the flood control scandal, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Thursday.

Lacson said these include allowing the undermanned Office of the Ombudsman to deputize private lawyers as prosecutors, and giving it a law enforcement arm to apply for search warrants and follow up the investigation of corruption-related cases.

“One recommendation is based on the suggestion of former Senate President Franklin Drilon to allow the Ombudsman to deputize private lawyers to help in prosecuting cases, because the Office of the Ombudsman is very undermanned. If we allow it to deputize private lawyers to act as prosecutors by way of legislation, that would be a good measure,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Mga Panukalang Magpapalakas sa Ombudsman Kabilang sa Bahagyang Rekomendasyon ng Blue Ribbon sa Isyu ng Flood Control

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Lacson: Government Can Explore Tapping UN Anti-Corruption Convention to Catch Zaldy Co

The Philippine government can explore tapping a 2003 anti-corruption convention of the United Nations to locate and arrest fugitive ex-Rep. Elizaldy Co, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson said the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), which was adopted in 2003 and ratified by the Philippine Senate in 2006, is a legally binding treaty that provides a framework for international cooperation against corruption.

“One option the Philippine government may explore is to tap the UNCAC, where we are a signatory. Imagine, 192 countries signed the convention. If we tap the resources of 191 other countries, you can imagine how our efforts to locate and arrest Co will be easier,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Maaaring Pag-aralan ng Gobyerno ang Paggamit ng UN Anti-Corruption Convention para Mahuli si Zaldy Co

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