PH open to tap UNCAC to arrest Zaldy Co — Usec. Castro

The Philippine government is open to tapping the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) to help locate and arrest former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co, who is facing malversation and graft charges over alleged flood control anomalies.

At a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked if Malacañang is open to such approach, which was floated by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo ''Ping'' Lacson.

''Opo, nakausap po mismo natin ang DFA, ang DOJ at pati na po ang DILG (Yes, we've talked to DFA, DOJ, and the DILG). According to Foreign Affairs Secretary Lazaro, 'Yes, we can explore UNCAC as it has international cooperation mechanisms but it will have to depend on the country. Countries are obliged to provide as applicable and in accord with domestic law possible mutual legal assistance to each other. However, [the] Presidential UNCAC Inter-Agency Committee with the ES as chair should be convened as it implements and monitors UNCAC,''' she said.

Castro said that on the part of the Department of Justice, there is no active coordination yet with the UN as regards the matter while with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, it was already referred to the Commission for Transnational Crimes.

''Sa parte naman po ng DOJ, base po sa kanila, wala pa pong aktibong ugnayan with UN at invocation of UNCAC. Interpol pa lang po ang coordination, okay. At mula naman po kay Secretary Jonvic [Remulla] sinabi po niya, “The matter has been referred to the Commission for Transnational Crimes. I am certain that the option mentioned by Senator Ping is part of the agenda,''' she said.

(On the part of the DOJ, there's no active coordination with the UN and the invocation of UNCAC. The only coordination is with the Interpol.)

Lacson had highlighted the 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.

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

He said 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. 

The DILG earlier said that it has started coordinating with Portugal, as Co is suspected to have a Portuguese passport.

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation also asked Interpol to issue a red notice against the former lawmaker.

The Sandiganbayan has declared Co as a "fugitive from justice" and ordered the cancellation of his Philippine passport by the DFA.

Co and 16 others are facing malversation and graft charges before the Sandiganabayan over a P289-million substandard road dike project in Oriental Mindoro built by Sunwest Corporation, a firm owned by Co's immediate family members. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News