Zaldy Co in gated community in Lisbon, DILG’s Remulla says

Former lawmaker Zaldy Co is believed to be staying inside a gated community in Lisbon, Portugal, according to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday.

Remulla said authorities are “pretty certain” about Co’s location based on ongoing surveillance efforts but noted that access to the area remains a challenge.

“Nasa Portugal siya. We're pretty certain nasa Lisbon siya. Isang gated community. Halos hindi lumalabas ng bahay,” Remulla told Dobol B TV in an interview.

(He's in Portugal. We're pretty certain he's in Lisbon. It's a gated community. He hardly comes out of the house.)

“Meron kaming operatives na tumitingin, nagsu-surveillance siya. Pero halos di lumalabas ng bahay. Nandoon lang sa loob. Hindi kasi makakapasok doon sa gated community na iyan,” he added.

(We have operatives watching, they are doing surveillance. But Co hardly comes out of the house. He's just inside. We can't enter that gated community.)

Among the challenges in arresting Co is the lack of an extradition treaty between the Philippines and Portugal. Also, Co is reportedly holding a Portuguese passport.

“The government will apply all the pressure necessary. Kasi ngayon, lahat ng assets niya, malapit na ma-seize. Lahat ng pera niya rito, on hold. Lahat ng properties niya, lahat ng negosyo niya, nakukuha na ng gobyerno. Kahit paano, kung sino ka man, ipaglalaban mo 'yan. In all legal ways, hindi kami manggigipit na hindi legal,” Remulla said.

(Now, all his assets are about to be seized. All his money here is on hold. All his properties, all his businesses, the government is taking them. No matter what, whoever you are, you will fight for that. In all legal ways, we will pressure him as long as it is legal.)

According to Joseph Morong’s “24 Oras” report, Remulla said Co already owned a Portuguese passport 10 years ago.

“Ang batas nila if the offense was committed before the granting of the passport, pwede siya i-extradite, but kung hawak nila 'yung passport at na-commit 'yung offense at hindi nila i-extradite,” Remulla said.

(Under their law, if the offense was committed before the person was issued a passport, they can extradite him. But if he already holds the passport and the offense was committed after that, they cannot extradite him.)

“As far as our information, 10 years ago pa lang, may passport na siya (he already has a Portuguese passport),” he added.

Meanwhile, Co's lawyer, Atty. Ruy Rondain, said if there are any feelers from his client, they are unauthorized.

"As far as I know, I am the only person authorized to speak for Rep. Co. I made no such overture. So, unless they spoke with him directly, I must say that those were unauthorized ‘feelers’,” Rondain said.

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

The Ombudsman earlier filed with the Sandiganbayan corruption and malversation of public funds charges against Co and others in connection with the P289 million project in Oriental Mindoro. 

Co has denied the allegations.—AOL/RF, GMA Integrated News