The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) assured the public on Thursday, October 30, that the three aircraft linked to former lawmaker Elizaldy Co, which left the country before the government could move to seize them, cannot be sold or re-registered abroad.
CAAP Director General Raul Del Rosario said the Philippines is coordinating with aviation authorities in Malaysia and Singapore to “monitor” Co’s three air assets.
However, he noted that their retrieval depends on the outcome of pending forfeiture proceedings.
“The important thing here is that those helicopters or airplanes cannot be sold. Even if they’re in Singapore or Malaysia, they cannot be sold,” Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said during a press conference alongside Del Rosario.
“At the right time, when the government recovers them through the various legal cases that the Solicitor General will file, they will be recovered wherever they are in the world,” Dizon added.
Del Rosario said the CAAP has identified a total of 13 aircraft — both helicopters and fixed-wing planes — belonging to companies connected to Co.
The list has been shared with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) amid the ongoing flood control corruption probe.
He explained that the three aircraft managed to leave the country before any formal investigation began.
“So far, three aircraft — two helicopters and one Gulfstream jet — flew out of the country as early as August 16, August 20, and September 11,” Del Rosario said.
“At that time, there was no official investigation yet. One of them flew out on a medical evacuation mission, while the two others went to Malaysia and Singapore,” he added.
The government had planned to seize the aircraft after Dizon requested authorities to freeze nearly P5 billion worth of Co’s assets.
The former lawmaker has been implicated in alleged budget insertions tied to the flood control corruption scandal, owing to his past role as chairperson of the House appropriations committee.
Del Rosario added that CAAP has been tracking the three aircraft since their departure and remains in constant coordination with aviation officials in Singapore and Malaysia.
“We are coordinating with the civil aviation authorities and asking their help in monitoring, because as of now, that is the only action we can take,” he said.
The remaining 10 aircraft linked to Co are still in the Philippines and cannot leave without filing flight plans with CAAP. All are “being monitored,” Del Rosario confirmed.
CAAP has also placed a hold on the deregistration of all 13 aircraft to prevent any attempts at sale or ownership transfer.
“Nakahold lahat ng registration ng mga assets na ‘yan (Registration of all assets are placed on hold),” Dizon said.
When asked about the status of Co’s remaining air assets, Dizon said any freeze orders would have to come from the AMLC.
“That’s for AMLA to disclose. Here in the executive department, we just follow orders of courts,” he added.
Once forfeiture orders are issued, CAAP will coordinate with the courts to return the aircraft to the Philippines, escorted by official flight inspectors.
Del Rosario also clarified that Co was not aboard any of the three aircraft that left the country, based on flight plans and passenger manifests.
via Kyle Cunanan
