Following the seizure of eight luxury vehicles from a Bonifacio Global City condo under a court warrant, lawyer Ruy Rondain claimed a separate seizure of 34 vehicles linked to former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy "Zaldy" Co and Sunwest Construction was illegal. He accused PNP-Highway Patrol Group officers of warrantless stops, searches, forcible key seizures, intimidation, and detaining drivers for over 12 hours, with criminal complaints under consideration.
In a follow-up to the January 8 seizure of eight luxury vehicles in Taguig—conducted under a Bureau of Customs search warrant—Rondain told ANC the PNP-HPG's separate impounding of 34 vehicles tied to Co and Sunwest Construction and Development Corp. violated the law.
"That’s illegal. Number one, they illegally stopped and searched the client’s cars. Then, they took the keys... of 34 cars by force. They intimidated the driver... Then they detained the drivers for over 12 hours," Rondain said.
Speaking to Super Radyo dzBB, he added that no search warrant was presented: "They got these vehicles forcibly without a search warrant... The LTO placed it under an alarm for being a hot car... Who reported that it was stolen? The owner? We are the owner."
Rondain questioned the authorities' basis, calling it "abuse" and warning of impending criminal complaints against police officials. The PNP-HPG described their action as a standard law enforcement operation.
Co, a fugitive in a Sandiganbayan graft and malversation case over a P289-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro, remains abroad.
