SILG Remulla still hopeful Zaldy Co will be arrested despite challenges

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla expressed hope Wednesday that former lawmaker Zaldy Co, who is facing charges over alleged flood control corruption, will be arrested despite several challenges.

“Ako, hindi nawawalan ng pag-asa kasi maliit ang mundo at lalong maliit ang mundo niya,” Remulla told GTV’s Balitanghali in an interview.

(I don’t lose hope because the world is small and his world is even smaller.)

“Puwede siya magkamali, pwede tayong swertehin, pwede tayong through negotiations, pagbigyan tayo ng Portuguese government,” he added.

(He can make mistakes, we can get lucky, we can go through negotiations, the Portuguese government will grant our request.)

Among the challenges in arresting Co is his reported Portuguese passport and the lack of extraction treaty with the Philippines and Portugal.

“Ang latest din po namin ay nasa Portugal siya using a Portuguese passport. So as of now, wala tayong extradition treaty with Portugal kaya tingin namin doon siya nagtatago,” Remulla said.

(Our latest is that he is in Portugal using a Portuguese passport. So as of now, we don’t have an extradition treaty with Portugal so we think he is hiding there.)

“Ang pagkaalam ko, if the crime committed before the acquisition of the passport, hindi siya chargeable. Kung after the acquisition, pwede siyang i-repatriate,” he added.

(As far as I know, if the crime was committed before the acquisition of the passport, he is not chargeable. If after the acquisition, he can be repatriated.)

According to Remulla, Co possibly obtained the supposed Portuguese passport seven years ago.

Remulla dismissed the possibility for the Interpol to arrest Co considering that the Portuguese government is “very strict” with this matter. 

“So we have to work on other means para ma-repatriate siya (to repatriate him),” he said.

Remulla noted that former Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. was arrested in Timor-Leste in May despite the absence of extradition treaty with the Philippines.

Teves was captured upon the request of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to the Timor Leste government, according to Remulla.

Arrest warrants have been issued against Co and others including officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and directors of Sunwest Corp. over supposed anomalous flood control projects. 

On November 18, the Ombudsman filed with the Sandiganbayan corruption and malversation of public funds charges against Co and others. 

The charges were in connection with the alleged anomalous P289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro. Co has since denied the allegations against him. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News