Zaldy Co last seen in Japan — DILG's Remulla

Former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, a central figure in the multi-billion peso flood control scandal, was last located in Japan, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Friday.

Remulla's statements came hours after President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Co, who has publicly refused calls to return to the Philippines, and 17 others have been issued warrants of arrest.

"Hindi kami maiisahan dito. As long as we have the legal authority, kukunin namin sya," Remulla told dzBB Super Radyo.

(He cannot escape us. As long as we have the legal authority, we will extradite him.)

With a court case now filed against Co, Remulla said, a red notice will be applied against him with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). The DILG will also move to request the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to cancel the ex-legislator's passport.

In September, the House of Representatives said Co flew to the United States for medical treatment. 

Records of the US Customs and Border Protection showed that Co arrived in New York on August 26 and left on September 13.

Remulla clarified that the DILG has no information about Co's current whereabouts, but added that his previous locations were the US, Europe, Singapore, Portugal, Spain, then, finally, Japan.

Homes in the Philippines

The DILG chief also said authorities will look into Co's addresses in the Philippines in case he has returned to the country.

"Hindi natin alam kung nasaan siya pero maaari siyang pumasok dito kaya titingnan lahat ng bahay niya," said Remulla.

(We still don't know his current location but he may enter the country so we will look into his residences.)

"Titingnan ang video surveillance ng opisina nya at titingnan if he's here in the last five month," he added.

(We will look into the video surveillance on bis office and try to see if he had been here in the last five months.)

Portugese passport?

Meanwhile, Remulla also said they will look into reports that Co has a Portugese passport, saying the ex-legislator may be protected by Portugal if he acquired it prior to the cases. 

"Depende 'yan kung saan siya magtatago kasi ang dalawang lugar kung saan hindi namin sya makukuha ay sa China at Russia. Ang diplomatic ties natin doesn't extend to police," said Remulla.

(It depends on the country he will go to. If it's in China or Russia, then we'll have difficulties in arresting him sice our diplomatic ties with the countries don't extend woth the police.)

"Ang Malaysia at Portugal, wala tayong extradition treaty. 'Yung apat na bansang 'yun mahihirapan tayo kung dun siya pupunta, otherwise makukuha natin," he added. 

(We also don't have extradition treaties with Malaysia and Portugal. So if he's in any of the four countries, it will be challenging. Otherwise, we can arrest him.)

The DILG chief's brother, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, has said his office remains ready to extend protection to Co should he decide to return to the Philippines.

Tracker teams

In a related development, Secretary Remulla said the government has formed tracker teams to arrest those allegedly involved in the flood control projects.

"In anticipation of that, naka-tracker team na kami sa kanilang lahat. As we speak, pinupuntahan na ng tracker team namin ang all those involved in their known addresses," Remulla said.

(In anticipation of that, we have tracker teams for all of them. As we speak, they are now going to the known addresses of all those involved.)

According to the DILG chief, the tracker teams were formed on Tuesday, November 18, in light of the plunder, graft, and bribery cases the Ombudsman filed against the former lawmaker and other co-accused with the Sandiganbayan. — VDV, GMA Integrated News