President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday said the government will "immediately" move to cancel resigned Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co’s passport once formal charges are filed against him in connection with the alleged involvement in multibillion-peso "ghost" flood control projects.

“The legal answer is because hindi pa nasampahan ng kaso, therefore the request for the cancellation of his passport cannot yet be made,” Marcos said during a press briefing.

“However, when the time comes, we will immediately cancel his passport,” Marcos said.

Co, who is currently abroad, has reportedly stated through his legal counsel, Ruy Rondain, that he will only return to the Philippines when he no longer feels his life is under threat.

Marcos clarified that he is not a legal expert, but stressed that passport cancellation follows a procedural requirement: “You have to give grounds for the cancellation of the passport. And those grounds will be based on the cases that will be filed against him.”

When asked if Co might be considered a potential state witness in the flood control scandal, Marcos deferred to the courts.

“That option is always there, except for those who are the most guilty,” he said.

“Pag sinabi ko, sasabihin pre-judged. Let the courts do their work. Let the judges do their work,” Marcos added when asked whether Co is guilty in the flood control scandal.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said that Co has requested to be excused from attending the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Friday, November 14, on alleged irregularities in flood control projects. This comes after Senator Imee Marcos announced earlier today that the former congressman would join the hearing via Zoom.