Metro Manila, Philippines – The government believes fugitive lawmaker Zaldy Co, a principal suspect in the flood control corruption scandal, is in Portugal, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Monday, Dec. 1.
“He is suspected to have a Portuguese passport acquired so many years ago,” Remulla said in a news conference in Malacañang.
“Sa ngayon, ang hinala namin nasa Portugal siya at doon naninirahan [For now, we believe he is living in Portugal],” he said.
The Philippines has no extradition treaty with the European country.
Remulla appealed to Filipinos in Europe to take pictures when they spot Co and send it to authorities or post it on the internet.
He assured the public that his agency is working with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Justice, and the Office of Ombudsman to get a “satisfying outcome” in bringing Co home.
The Cabinet member did not confirm if Co has a “golden visa,” a program that grants residence by investment, and referred the question to the DFA.
The Sandiganbayan has issued an arrest warrant against Co and 15 others for graft and malversation over an anomalous flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier warned that Co’s passport would be canceled and he can’t get away with justice.
The president said Co’s camp attempted blackmail, saying the lawmaker will stop releasing tell-all videos if the government drops the passport cancellation threat. Co’s lawyer denied the claim.
Co has been outside the country since July, initially to seek medical treatment in the United States. He resigned from his party-list group AKO BICOL and eventually as a member of the House of Representatives.
