DILG's Remulla: Gov't to explore all means to repatriate Zaldy Co

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday said that the Philippine government would exhaust all means to repatriate former lawmaker Zaldy Co, who was implicated in the flood control anomalies.

In a phone interview with reporters, Remulla said that President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. instructed them to study other means to bring the former lawmaker back to the Philippines.

He clarified his statement earlier in the day that the President wants to have an extradition treaty with Portugal for the arrest of Co.

''Extradition is almost impossible kasi wala nga tayong treaty but there are other avenues we are studying para magawa siya,'' Remulla said.

(Extradition is almost impossible since we do not have a treaty but there are other avenues we are studying to make it happen.)

''We will look for all possible means to repatriate Zaldy Co to the Philippines... not extradite, repatriate,'' he added. 

Remulla said there are other avenues which the Philippine government can explore to capture Co, including through Interpol, United Nations, and other agencies. 

''The President instructed us to study the possibility of applying for an extradition for Zaldy Co with Portugal. Pinag-aaralan pa namin kasi ang magulo dito ay wala tayong extradition treaty,'' Remulla said.

(We are studying it since we do not have an extradition treaty.)

''But there are avenues that we can pursue na gusto niyang pag-aralan,'' he added.

(But there are avenues that we can pursue that the President wants to study.)

Co has yet to return to the country amid the ongoing investigation into budget insertions and flood control projects. He left the Philippines for medical reasons. 

He is suspected to hold a Portuguese passport, which was "acquired so many years ago." 

Last year, Marcos announced that warrants of arrest have been issued against Co and 15 others, including officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways and directors of Sunwest Corp., in connection with the alleged anomalous P289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

This came after the Office of the Ombudsman filed with the Sandiganbayan corruption and malversation of public funds charges against Co and others. 

The Sandiganbayan earlier declared Co as a "fugitive from justice" and ordered the cancellation of his Philippine passport by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

In December, the President announced that Co's passport has been canceled.—AOL/RF, GMA Integrated News