Repatriating Accountability: The Case for International Legal Cooperation in the Prosecution of Zaldy Co and Martin Romualdez
Repatriating Accountability: The Case for International Legal Cooperation in the Prosecution of Zaldy Co and Martin Romualdez
September 23, 2025
Abstract
This essay argues for the urgent repatriation of Filipino lawmakers Zaldy Co and Martin Romualdez to face litigation in the Philippines over their alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects and budgetary manipulations. Drawing from recent developments in Philippine legislative politics, whistleblower testimonies, and international legal frameworks, the essay outlines a strategic pathway for leveraging Interpol's resources to facilitate cross-border cooperation, asset tracing, and money laundering investigations. It situates the case within broader discourses on postcolonial governance, transnational accountability, and the operationalization of justice in the Global South.
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I. Introduction: Ghost Projects and the Specter of Impunity
The Philippine political landscape has once again been shaken by allegations of large-scale corruption involving ghost flood control projects, budget insertions, and kickbacks implicating high-ranking officials. Among those named are former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co, both of whom have denied wrongdoing but remain central figures in the controversy. Co is currently in the United States on medical leave, while Romualdez resigned from his post amid mounting pressure.
The gravity of the allegations—ranging from P13 billion in budget insertions to systemic kickbacks from infrastructure contracts—demands not only domestic investigation but also international cooperation. This essay proposes a framework for repatriating Co and Romualdez through Interpol mechanisms, initiating money laundering probes, and seizing assets linked to anomalous acts. It argues that such efforts are not merely legal imperatives but ethical necessities in restoring public trust and institutional integrity.
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II. Contextualizing the Allegations: Infrastructure as a Site of Extraction
Infrastructure in postcolonial states often serves as a double-edged sword: a symbol of development and a conduit for corruption. In the Philippines, flood control projects have historically been vulnerable to budgetary manipulation due to their technical opacity and urgency. The recent scandal, however, reveals a more insidious pattern.
According to whistleblower testimonies and Senate hearings, contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya alleged that lawmakers demanded commissions from public works contracts, with Romualdez and Co reportedly receiving up to 30% in kickbacks. These claims were corroborated by photographic evidence and affidavits from Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineers, pointing to systemic collusion between legislators and contractors.
The implications are staggering. Not only do these ghost projects siphon public funds, but they also exacerbate climate vulnerability by failing to deliver critical infrastructure. The scandal thus intersects with broader issues of environmental justice, public safety, and democratic accountability.
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III. Legal Grounds for Repatriation: Domestic Mandates and International Instruments
The Philippine government has taken preliminary steps to compel Co's return. Newly elected House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III revoked Co's travel clearance and ordered him to return within ten days. Majority Leader Sandro Marcos echoed this call, citing the precedent of Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., who was expelled for failing to return despite an expired travel order.
However, domestic mandates alone may be insufficient. Co remains abroad, and Romualdez's resignation does not preclude legal accountability. Here, international legal instruments become crucial.
A. Interpol's Role
Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, provides mechanisms for cross-border law enforcement cooperation. Through its Red Notice system, Interpol can facilitate the location and provisional arrest of individuals wanted for prosecution. While not an arrest warrant per se, a Red Notice signals to member states that the individual is subject to legal action.
The Philippines, as a member of Interpol, can request the issuance of Red Notices for Co and Romualdez, contingent on the existence of arrest warrants and sufficient evidence. This would enable their detention in host countries and eventual extradition.
B. Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs)
Beyond Interpol, the Philippines can invoke MLATs with countries such as the United States to request assistance in evidence gathering, asset tracing, and extradition. MLATs provide a formal channel for cooperation between judicial authorities, ensuring due process and reciprocity.
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IV. Money Laundering and Asset Recovery: Tracing the Invisible
The allegations against Co and Romualdez are not limited to budgetary manipulation; they implicate broader financial crimes, including money laundering. The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) of the Philippines, in coordination with international financial intelligence units, can initiate investigations into suspicious transactions linked to flood control contracts.
A. Financial Intelligence and Beneficial Ownership
Tracing illicit funds requires identifying beneficial ownership structures, shell companies, and offshore accounts. Co's company, Sunwest Inc., has been identified as one of the top contractors in the flood control portfolio. Investigators must scrutinize its financial records, subcontracting practices, and links to political figures.
Romualdez, while not directly tied to specific companies, has been named in affidavits and testimonies as a recipient of kickbacks. Financial intelligence units can analyze his asset declarations, campaign contributions, and real estate holdings for discrepancies.
B. Asset Freezing and Civil Forfeiture
Once suspicious assets are identified, authorities can initiate freezing orders and civil forfeiture proceedings. These measures prevent the dissipation of funds and enable their recovery for public use. International cooperation is essential here, especially if assets are held abroad.
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V. Political Will and Institutional Reform: Beyond Legalism
Legal mechanisms, while necessary, are insufficient without political will. Vice President Sara Duterte has publicly criticized the Marcos administration for its perceived lack of sincerity in investigating the flood control mess. She questioned why Co was allowed to leave the country and why Romualdez was not detained.
Such statements reflect a broader crisis of confidence in Philippine institutions. The repatriation of Co and Romualdez must therefore be part of a larger reform agenda that includes:
- Strengthening the independence of investigative bodies
- Enhancing whistleblower protection
- Reforming budgetary processes to prevent insertions
- Institutionalizing public oversight in infrastructure planning
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VI. Postcolonial Accountability and Transnational Justice
The case of Co and Romualdez is emblematic of postcolonial challenges in governance. It reveals how elite networks exploit developmental rhetoric to entrench patronage and evade accountability. Repatriation, in this context, is not merely about legal closure but about reclaiming sovereignty from transnational impunity.
Interpol’s involvement must be framed not as external intervention but as solidarity with Filipino citizens demanding justice. Asset recovery must be reinvested in communities affected by infrastructural neglect. Litigation must be transparent, participatory, and trauma-informed.
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VII. Conclusion: Operationalizing Justice
The repatriation of Zaldy Co and Martin Romualdez is a litmus test for Philippine democracy. It challenges the state to confront elite impunity, mobilize international cooperation, and restore public trust. Through Interpol, MLATs, and financial intelligence, the Philippines can build a robust case that transcends political theater and delivers substantive justice.
But more than legal action, this moment demands ethical reckoning. It calls on artists, scholars, and citizens to document, annotate, and archive the truths obscured by ghost projects. It invites us to operationalize memory as resistance, infrastructure as care, and justice as a communal endeavor.
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Sources:
Sara Duterte wants Romualdez detained, Zaldy Co returned
Dy revokes Zaldy Co’s travel clearance
Sandro Marcos says Zaldy Co must come home
Romualdez, Co linked to flood control scandal
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Amiel Gerald A. Roldan: a multidisciplinary Filipino artist, poet, researcher, and cultural worker whose practice spans painting, printmaking, photography, installation, academic writing, and trauma-informed mythmaking. He is deeply rooted in cultural memory, postcolonial critique, and speculative cosmology, and in bridging creative practice with scholarly infrastructure—building counter-archives, annotating speculative poetry like Southeast Asian manuscripts, and fostering regional solidarity through ethical collaboration.
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