Philippine coastguard finds itself outmatched by politician’s private air fleet

As the Philippines’ coastguard struggles to patrol vast, contested waters with a handful of ageing planes and helicopters, a single politician’s larger private fleet has become a lightning rod for public anger over corruption and the chronic underfunding of the country’s defence forces.

At the heart of the scandal is Zaldy Co, who until January chaired the powerful House Appropriations Committee – a position that granted him sweeping powers over the national budget.

The discovery of six helicopters, two turboprop planes and an executive jet registered to companies linked to the former lawmaker was disclosed on September 24 by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Vince Dizon, the new department head tasked by President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr with rooting out corruption, revealed that Co’s air assets were worth a combined 4.7 billion pesos (US$81 million).

The Philippine coastguard’s fleet, by contrast, is composed of just three planes and two helicopters.

  

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