Luxury cars linked to Zaldy Co seized, turned over to ICI
Agents of the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Philippine National Police and other law enforcement units have confiscated 14 luxury cars allegedly belonging to fugitive lawmaker Zaldy Co and turned them over to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), the PNP‘s Highway Patrol Group (HPG) said on Friday.
In response to that operation Thursday night at the Fort Victoria condominium in Taguig City, Co’s legal counsel acknowledged some of the vehicles belonged to his client but questioned their seizure and threatened legal action.
A report by the HPG said the vehicles were brought to the country in violation of Section 1401 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (Republic Act No. 10863) or the law‘s provision on “unlawful importation or exportation.”
‘Proper disposition’
Among the companies identified in that report as the registered owners of those vehicles are Eco Leisure and Hospitality Holding Corp., Misibis Resort and Hotel Management Inc. and Sunwest Construction and Development Corp.—companies owned by or linked to the former Ako Bicol party list congressman.
The cars were subsequently brought to the ICI‘s office in Taguig City for “documentation and proper disposition,” the HPG said.
In its statement, the ICI said it had earlier received information about the vehicles and subsequently referred the matter to the BOC and Land Transportation Office (LTO).
According to the PNP, the warrants covered the seizure of nine vehicles—of which authorities recovered only eight but found six more.
Covered by the search warrants were the following:
• A white Rolls-Royce with plate number NER 5003 registered under Eco Leisure and Hospitality Holding Corp.
• A black Toyota Sequoia with plate numbers NNV 2869 and UO U524 registered under La Venezia Hotel and Spa Inc.
• A black Cadillac Escalade with plate numbers NHE 7938 registered under Misibis Resort and Hotel Management Inc.
• A black Cadillac Escalade with plate number NAG 8934 registered under Sunwest Construction and Development Corp.
• A black Cadillac Escalade with plate number NHE 2098 registered under Eco Leisure and Hospitality Holding Corp.
• A black Lexus with plate number U2K 350 registered under Sunwest Construction and Development Corp.
• A Lexus Sport Plus with plate number NBJ 8944 registered under La Venezia Hotel and Spa Inc.
• A black Mercedes-Benz with plate number NBX 8571 registered under Sunwest Corpor. and Development Corp.
The remaining six cars also found by authorities were the following:
• A black Lexus Hybrid LM350h with plate number Z80584
• A black Lexus LV 350 with plate number NEM 8111
• A GMC Yukon Denali with plate number NHB 1288
• A light metallic blue Ferrari with plate number CC455B
• A white Toyota Fortuner with plate number NHJ 3082
• A black Toyota Sequoia with plate number U2C823
The other confiscated vehicles are “subject … [to further] investigation,” acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said at a press briefing on Friday.
The HPG said the last two vehicles were registered under Co’s name and were “subject to government confiscation pursuant to an LTO certification dated Dec. 9, 2025.”
‘It will rain complaints’
In response, lawyer Ruy Rondain said Co’s camp will file complaints against the operating teams.
“Some of the cars are personally Co’s. The others are Mrs. Co’s. The others are the company’s,” Rondain told dzBB, without naming which of the companies cited by the HPG he was referring to.
“They should wait for a lawsuit. It will rain complaints,” he added.
PNP public information chief Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said the police are ready to face any legal action “against our operatives in connection with the execution of the search warrant.”
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno also expressed support for Thursday’s interagency operation.
“We will continue to pursue coordinated actions against individuals, including those linked to the flood control scandal, to ensure accountability,” Nepomuceno said in a statement.
Co, who faces graft and malversation charges before the Sandiganbayan, is the subject of a manhunt since resigning from the House in September. He left the country earlier in July, claiming he was seeking medical treatment.
Last November, the Anti-Money Laundering Council froze his air assets valued at P4 billion, although among these assets, two helicopters and a jet had been flown out of the country the previous month.
Co also reportedly has a house with a five-story basement under construction in Forbes Park. According to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, the basement is being built to store cash. —WITH REPORTS FROM KATHLEN DE VILLA AND INQUIRER RESEARCH
