President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was accused on Wednesday, November 26, of trying to “blackmail” him by the lawyer of his former ally, Zaldy Co, to prevent the cancellation of the former congressman’s passport.
Marcos said in a video, “Zaldy Co’s lawyer approached us and tried to blackmail us. He said if we don’t cancel his passport, he won’t release the video. I do not negotiate with criminals.”
The president insisted that even if Co releases a video about alleged lies and destabilization of the government, his passport will still be canceled. “You will not escape justice,” he added.
According to Co's lawyer, Ruy Rondain, Marcos's allegations are "completely untrue." He allegedly had no control over the release of the videos and did not negotiate with the government regarding the passport.
Zaldy Co, former chairman of the House appropriations committee, fled the country while an investigation into alleged anomalies in the flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro was underway. The government is still working to have his passport canceled.
