DILG coordinating with Portugal amid Zaldy Co’s possible foreign passport

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has started coordinating with Portugal, as former lawmaker Zaldy Co, who is facing an arrest warrant over alleged flood control funds corruption, is suspected to have a Portuguese passport.

DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday pointed out that the cancellation of Co’s Philippine passport will limit his movement abroad but the lawmaker’s alleged Portuguese passport may complicate the situation.

“Ang alinlangan lang namin dyan ay kung totoo yung balita na may Portuguese passport siya, magiging mas komplikado ang bagay,” he told GTV’s Balitanghali in an interview.

(Our only doubt is that if the information that he has a Portuguese passport is true, things will get more complicated.)

“Yes, nakikipag-ugnayan na tayo (sa Portugal). Except, again, yung international law takes a long time. Matagal na proseso iyan,” he added.

(Yes, we are in contact with Portugal. Except, again, international law takes a long time. It’s a long process.)

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. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News