MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to secure former lawmaker Zaldy Co‘s air assets believed to be in Malaysia and Singapore.

Marcos announced this in a video report to the people on Friday, November 28, the latest presidential update on government actions in relation to the flood control projects mess.

“Ngayong araw, inatasan ko ang DOTr at saka yung CAAP na makipag ugnayan sa mga kaibigan natin sa Malaysia saka sa Singapore dahil ang mga pag-aari na helicopter at saka eroplano ay mukhang doon tinatago ni Zaldy Co at naka rehistro po ito sa kanyang kumpanya na tinatawag na Misibis Aviation and Development Corporation,” he said.

(Today, I ordered the DOTr and CAAP to coordinate with our friends in Malaysia and in Singapore because Zaldy Co appears to have hidden his helicopters and airplanes there, and these are registered with his company called Misibis Aviation and Development Corporation.)

CAAP confirmed in late October that three aircraft linked to Co was no longer in the country.

The President noted in Filipino that since the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) had already issued a freeze order on the assets of Co, “all movements and disposition of the aircraft are prohibited.”

“You cannot steal from the Filipino people and expect to hide or fly away on your private jets. You may have the money to run, but you cannot outrun the Republic of the Philippines,” Marcos said.

“Kaya kayong mga pugante, umuwi na kayo! Ang payo ko sa inyo, hindi na kayo turista. Hinahabol na kayo ng batas (You fugitives, come home! My advice to you is you are not tourists. The law is running after you),” he added.

Last week, Marcos announced in a video report that the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant against Co and 17 others from Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Mimaropa and Sunwest Corporation.

The President also shared on Friday that former DPWH district engineer Harry Alcantara returned P110 million to the government through the Department of Justice that day, and that Alcantara would return P200 million more in two weeks’ time.

“This government intends to bring back every peso, every asset, every person responsible and return it to the Filipino people,” Marcos said. – Rappler.com