Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has postponed his scheduled November 17 trip to France, where he was set to seek local authorities’ assistance in locating former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co and other officials facing complaints in the Philippines. Remulla cited massive protests over the rising cost of living and social services, saying around 800,000 people had gathered nationwide.
He also claimed that Co, Senator Loren Legarda, and Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste were hiding in France to evade legal complaints. Co faces malversation, graft, and plunder cases linked to the alleged flood control kickback scheme, while Legarda and Leviste face a plunder complaint involving allegations against Leviste’s solar energy firm. GMA News Online said it had sought Leviste’s comment.
