Manila Bulletin
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'Here you go': Lacson counters Ombudsman critics with arrest orders vs Zaldy Co, 17 others
Philippines
National
'Here you go': Lacson counters Ombudsman critics with arrest orders vs Zaldy Co, 17 others
'Here you go': Lacson counters Ombudsman critics with arrest orders vs Zaldy Co, 17 others
By Dhel Nazario
Published Nov 22, 2025 03:49 pm
Amid persistent criticism that the Office of the Ombudsman’s probe was all talk, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said on Saturday, Nov. 22, that the arrest orders for resigned congressman Zaldy Co and 17 others were proof that those doubts were misplaced.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson (Facebook)
Lacson had this to say to Usapang Senado on DWIZ following the Sandiganbayan's issuance of arrest orders on Nov. 21 against Co, 17 officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and directors of Sunwest Corporation.
They face charges of graft and malversation of public funds over the 2020 flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
With the arrest order in place, the Ombudsman may now request assistance from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) for a red notice that would alert foreign law enforcement agencies to locate and detain Co, who left the Philippines in July and has not returned.
The Ombudsman may also petition the Sandiganbayan to cancel Co’s passport to prevent him from moving between countries while evading arrest.
Reacting to those who previously claimed that the Ombudsman’s actions would not result in accountability, Lacson, who also chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that's conducting its own flood control probe, says the filing of charges at the Sandiganbayan proves otherwise.
“Ang mas importante dito yung sa mga pumupuna na walang nangyayari, eto na yun eh. Na mayroon nang naisampa sa Sandiganbayan. So yung mga nagdududa sa Ombudsman, na hanggang diyan lang sa press release, imbestigasyon, ayan na (What’s more important here is for those criticizing that nothing is happening — this is it. A case has now been filed before the Sandiganbayan. So for those who doubt the Ombudsman, saying it’s all just press releases and investigations, here you go),” he said.
Lacson added that critics who repeatedly claimed the government would not pursue cases must now acknowledge that legal action has formally begun.
“Ewan ko kung ano pa yung sasabihin ng mga kritiko. Di naman pwede kasing madaliin although justifiably yung mga kababayan natin may katwiran naman na mainip. Pero yung iba hindi lang naiinip kundi kasama na yung paninira (I don’t know what the critics will say now. You really can’t rush the process, although our countrymen understandably have a right to be impatient. But some are not only impatient — they’re also engaged in mudslinging)," he said.
"Yung parang nag-iinflame sa ating mga kababayan wala yan, pagtatakpan yan. Ang daming sinasabi wala rin mangyayari dahil ayaw talaga nilang hulihin. They can eat their words now kasi nangyari na dapat at least ang pasimula (It’s as if they’re riling up our countrymen, saying ‘nothing will happen, they’ll just cover it up.’ They kept insisting nothing would come out of this because the authorities supposedly didn’t want to make any arrests. They can eat their words now because what needed to happen has finally begun, at least the first step),” he added.
The senator says that while this is only the beginning of what could be a lengthy judicial process, what's important is that the system is already working.
“Kasi yan ang first step eh. Kasi mahabang usapan pa yan siyempre wala siya dito, hindi naman siya pwedeng ma-try in absentia kasi hindi siya na-arraign. Di ba wala pang jurisdiction yung Sandigan sa kanya kasi nga hindi pa siya arrested. Pati yung iba na pinaghahanap ngayon. Pero at least gumugulong na yung wheels of justice (Because that’s the first step. This will still be a long process, of course, since he’s not here — and he can’t be tried in absentia because he hasn’t been arraigned. The Sandiganbayan doesn’t have jurisdiction over him yet since he hasn’t been arrested, same with the others who are still being sought. But at least the wheels of justice are already turning),” he said.
“Sakin mas importanteng yun ang isipin natin at ipabatid sa ating mga kababayan na hindi ito yung hindi seryoso. At least on the part of the Ombudsman, seryoso talaga sila (For me, it’s more important that we keep this in mind and let our countrymen know that this is not something being taken lightly. At least on the part of the Ombudsman, they are truly serious about this),” he added.