Use UN anti-corruption arm vs Zaldy Co, gov't urged

The Philippine government could consider leveraging a 2003 United Nations anti-corruption convention to help locate and apprehend fugitive former Representative Elizaldy "Zaldy" Co, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson highlighted the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), adopted in 2003 and ratified by the Philippine Senate in 2006, as a legally binding treaty that provides a framework for international cooperation against corruption.

"One option the Philippine government may explore is to tap the UNCAC, where we are a signatory. Imagine, 192 countries signed the convention," Lacson said in a mix of English and Filipino during an interview on dwIZ radio.

"If we tap the resources of 191 other countries, you can imagine how our efforts to locate and arrest Co will be easier," he added.

He cited UNCAC’s Article 38, which mandates cooperation between state parties in investigating and prosecuting criminal offenses.

Lacson said the Ombudsman, Department of Justice, and Department of Foreign Affairs could examine this option to seek assistance from other signatory countries.

This would supposedly complement the Philippines’ request to the International Police Organization (Interpol) to issue a red notice against Co, whose passport has been canceled.

Lacson said the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which he chairs, could subpoena documents recovered by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) from Co’s condominium unit to complete the panel’s records and aid legislative efforts.

He added that the committee may hold its next hearing on the flood control project controversy in 2026.

Independent People's Commission bill

Lacson remains hopeful that the Senate can pass the bill establishing an Independent People's Commission (IPC) to investigate anomalous infrastructure projects before lawmakers take a break for Christmas.

He maintained that the IPC would not conflict with the Ombudsman, as it would focus solely on fact-finding and evidence-gathering, but without prosecutorial powers.

Lacson also dismissed talk of demoralization in the Senate amid the possible arrests of members linked to the mess surrounding the flood control project.

"Our enthusiasm and desire to pass bills is still there," he said, though he acknowledged some sadness over potential arrest warrants against colleagues.

He added that while this situation is a "bitter pill to swallow," corruption behind anomalous infrastructure projects must end.

"Filipinos get hit twice—by corruption in the series of flood control projects and by alleged extortion of taxpayers by corrupt BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue] personnel," he said.

"Corruption must stop. There are those who just don’t know when to stop." —MCG/KG, GMA Integrated News