Malacañang dares Zaldy Co to return to PH amid SC petition

Malacañang on Friday challenged former Ako-Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co anew to return to the Philippines after he filed a Supreme Court (SC) resolution annulling the Ombudsman resolution indicting him for graft and malversation.

"Umuwi muna siya sa Pilipinas (He should go home first)," Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said when asked for Malacanang's comment on the certiorari petition.

Co, who is facing an arrest warrant from the Sandiganbayan, has yet to return to the country amid allegations of his supposed involvement in the flood control mess.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) previously said it believes Co is in Portugal, but an apostille attached to a petition filed with the SC showed the former legislator "emerged" in Stockholm, Sweden, at least on January 15.

GMA Integrated News exclusively obtained a copy of the certiorari petition against Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla filed on January 25, showing the apostille that Co personally signed the petition before a notary public in the municipality of Nacka.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the latest information regarding his possible location is in the hands of law enforcement authorities

Co is facing an arrest warrant before the Sandiganbayan for cases of malversation and graft filed by the Ombudsman in November in connection with a P289-M flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. —LDF, GMA Integrated News