Reward for Zaldy Co's arrest can be 'considered,' Palace says

Malacañang on Tuesday welcomed the possibility of providing a reward for the arrest of resigned lawmaker Zaldy Co, who faces corruption and malversation charges in relation to the flood control projects controversy.

At a Palace press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked if the government was considering to give a reward to immediately arrest Co. She said there have been no formal talks on the matter, but added that a reward can be considered. 

"Sa ngayon po, wala pong napag-uusapan sa ganiyan. Pero since nadinig po sa inyo, maaari po siguro ikonsidera. Pero as of now, wala pa pong napag-uusapan tungkol diyan," Castro said.

(There's no talk about it yet. But since you've mentioned it, it can be considered. But as of now, there's no talk about it.)

Castro also said it was a good suggestion. 

Co is believed to be in Portugal amid the ongoing arrest of individuals charged over the flood control mess in Oriental Mindoro, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Monday.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said that Co is suspected to hold a Portuguese passport "acquired so many years ago."

On November 21, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. announced that warrants of arrest have been issued against Co and 15 others–officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and directors of Sunwest Corp.–in connection with the flood control projects controversy.

This comes after the Ombudsman filed with the Sandiganbayan corruption and malversation of public funds charges against Co and others on November 18 over the alleged anomalous P289-million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. — VDV, GMA Integrated News