Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon revealed on Wednesday that Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, one of the government officials linked to the anomalous flood control projects, owned P4.7 billion worth of aircraft.

In a press conference, Dizon said based on the information from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Co owned a total of 11 registered air assets including a long-range jet aircraft and different types of helicopters.

"4.7 billion pesos is the total value of air assets owned by Cong. Zaldy Co, registered in various companies," he said.

Co was the former head of the House appropriations committee. House Speaker Faustino Dy III recalled Co's travel order and told him to return to the Philippines.

Dizon said the information about the air assets owned by Co will be forwarded to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to support their ongoing investigation.

"We have also written (to) the AMLC, DOJ and ICI informing them about this and we will leave it up to them on what to do with these assets," he said.

Dizon also disclosed that according to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) the potential assets of 26 individuals who are facing graft charges before the Ombudsman in connection to the controversial flood control projects has a total value of over P474 million.

He also named the 10 public works officials who were placed under investigation due to lavish lifestyle including National Capital Region director Gerard Opulencia and Central Visayas regional director Danilo Villa due to lavish lifestyle and others for their involvement in the substandards and ghost flood control projects of the agency.

"It is just the initial list based on reports and evidence submitted to us by different sources, we have sent official show cause orders to those officials, there is a process that we need to follow because most of these officials have civil service," he said.

"We are giving them five days to submit their written explanation about the reports we have received against them and later on depending on the result of the investigation appropriate administrative charges will be filed against them," he added.

However, Dizon noted that the liability that these officials would have to face if they are found guilty will not just end in administrative charges as the evidence against them will also be forwarded to the ICI. Robina Asido/DMS