Zaldy Co may still be in Portugal but PH return not ruled out —DILG’s Remulla

Former lawmaker Zaldy Co is believed to still be in Portugal, but authorities are not ruling out the possibility that he has returned to the Philippines, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Thursday.

“Nandoon siya sa Portugal... Pero hindi namin idi-discount baka nakauwi na rito kaya lahat ng mga bahay-bahayan niya, lahat ng mga lugar niya ay sini-serve namin ng warrant of arrest,” Remulla told Dobol B TV in an interview when asked for an update on Co’s whereabouts.

(He is still there in Portugal. But we are not discounting the possibility that he may have returned home, so we are serving arrest warrants on all his houses, all his places.)

“Hindi mo pwede sabihin na hindi siya nakabalik. Hindi mo pwede i-rule out. Kailangan niyan lahat ng anggulo pinag-aaralan nang husto,” he added.

(You can’t say that he didn’t return. You can’t rule that out. It requires studying all angles thoroughly.)

According to Remulla, authorities have monitored videos showing Co in Portugal.

In November 2025, arrest warrants were issued against Co and others, including officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and directors of Sunwest Corp. over alleged anomalous flood control projects.

The Ombudsman earlier filed with the Sandiganbayan corruption and malversation of public funds charges against Co and others. 

These charges were in connection with the alleged anomalous P289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro. 

Co has denied the allegations.

The trial of the case against Co before the Sandiganbayan will begin January 20, according to DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News