NBI following up on Interpol red notice request for Zaldy Co

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has not yet received an update on its request for the issuance of an Interpol red notice against former congressman Zaldy Co, who is accused of involvement in multi-billion-peso corruption linked to flood control projects.

“Recently nag-follow up po on status of app for red notice on Zaldy Co, wala pa rin,” NBI spokesperson Palmer Mallari said Thursday.

(We recently followed up on the status of our application for a red notice on Zaldy Co. No update yet.)

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier said it is "pretty certain" that Co is in a gated community in Lisbon, Portugal, but noted that access to the area remains a challenge.

A red notice is not an arrest warrant, but a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action, subject to the laws of each member country.

In December, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced the cancellation of Co's Philippine passport, but Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said that among the challenges in arresting Co is the lack of an extradition treaty between the Philippines and Portugal, and that Co is reportedly holding a Portuguese passport.

Atong Ang, Cassandra Ong

Mallari also said that the NBI has stepped up its manhunt and information-gathering efforts regarding the whereabouts of businessman Charlie "Atong" Ang, who is wanted for his alleged involvement in the disappearance of several sabungeros, or cockfighting enthusiasts.

READ: Who is Atong Ang?

While the DILG said there were reports that Ang may be in Cambodia, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it has not monitored any travel records for Ang so far.

The BI also said it has found no travel record for Cassandra Ong, who is facing accusations related to a human trafficking case involving an illegal POGO. There are “no recent recorded travels for both,” said BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval. — BM, GMA Integrated News