Metro Manila, Philippines – Fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co used an expired Philippine passport and likely crossed European borders by land, Justice Secretary Frederick Vida said. Vida said Co’s passport expired in September 2022 when authorities caught him, raising questions on how he moves within Europe. “That was the one he was in possession with when he was accosted by the authorities,” Vida said, referring to the expired travel document. He added that Co had been issued multiple passports in the past, including an official passport and another that was canceled by the government. Philippine officials believe Co took advantage of open borders within Europe’s Schengen area, a free-travel zone across 29 European countries, including 25 EU states and four non-EU nations (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) “Definitely he was traveling by land,” Vida said, citing intelligence gathered during the government’s coordination with foreign counterparts. He said authorities have information on…