Plane used to transport Duterte to Netherlands not mine – Rep. Co
Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co (L) and the plane carrying former President Rodrigo Duterte. | PHOTOS: Official Faceook page of Rep. Zaldy Co and Aaron Favila of AP
MANILA, Philippines — Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co has disputed claims that he owns the Gulfstream jet that was used to transport arrested former President Rodrigo Duterte to the Netherlands.
Co said this in response to rumors that he owned the jet plane with tail number RP-C5219—the aircraft used in enforcing the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest order against Duterte.
“Please be advised that the jet plane with tail number RP-C5219, which carried former President Rodrigo Duterte to The Netherlands, is NOT owned by Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co,” Co said in a statement shared by his office.
“Social media posts claiming otherwise are FALSE,” it emphasized.
“We urge the public and media to be more discerning, to verify with proper authorities, and be responsible in sharing information to avoid the spread of false or unverified claims,” he added.
In a subsequent statement on Thursday morning, Co again clarified that he has nothing to do with the ICC, adding that he is not in the Hague but that he went to Rome for a personal meeting.
“I categorically deny the false information circulating online regarding my alleged involvement with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and my supposed trip to The Hague,” said the House member.
“I have no connection to the ICC, nor am I in The Hague, Netherlands,” he noted.
“While I confirm that I recently traveled abroad, it was solely for a scheduled personal meeting in Rome and had nothing to do with the ICC,” he added.
According to Co, his travel records show that he went to Rome using a commercial flight
“My travel records clearly show that I departed Manila on Emirates Flight EK333 to Dubai on March 11, 2025, and proceeded to Rome on Emirates Flight EK0097 on March 12,” he said.
“Any claims suggesting that I am in The Hague or any location other than Rome are entirely false,” he pointed out.
Rumors spreading on social media, Co said, are merely “fake news.”
“It is evident that certain individuals are actively spreading fake news, particularly targeting me and several of my colleagues in the House of Representatives,” the lawmaker said.
“I believe this is a concerted effort to divert the public’s attention from the real issue,” he suspected.
On Tuesday morning, after arriving from Hong Kong, the Philippine National Police assisted the International Criminal Police Organization in enforcing the ICC arrest order against Duterte.
The arrest order is for alleged crimes against humanity during the former president’s war on illegal drugs.
Duterte, his relatives, lawyers, and allies initially questioned the arrest, but the former president eventually boarded a chartered plane bound for The Hague in the Netherlands a few minutes after 11:00 p.m., Tuesday.
READ: Plane carrying Rodrigo Duterte leaves PH for The Hague
As early as last Saturday, there have been rumors that the ICC will soon release an arrest order against Duterte.
During this time, the former president, his relatives, and key allies flew to Hong Kong to meet overseas Filipino workers.
In Hong Kong, the former chief executive addressed the arrest order, saying that his actions during the war on illegal drugs were for the Philippines’ benefit.
READ: Duterte on possible ICC arrest warrant: I did everything for Filipinos
However, several official and independent investigations of the drug war have shown that there were many instances when innocent individuals were dragged into the anti-drug operations.
In August 2017, 17-year-old Kian delos Santos was summarily executed in Caloocan City, even though he was not the original target of the operation.
The three police officers involved in the killing of delos Santos were convicted of murder.
READ: 3 policemen guilty of killing Kian delos Santos — court
