Marcos: PH continues coordination with Portugal to bring Zaldy Co home

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said Wednesday (Manila Time) that the government continues its coordination with Portuguese authorities to bring former lawmaker Zaldy Co back to the Philippines.

''You cannot bring him home because hindi – that's just not the way it works. We have to ask the assistance of the country where he is in, which is presently Portugal,'' Marcos told reporters. 

''So that is what we have done. Naglagay na tayo ng red notice sa Interpol at patuloy ang ating ugnayan sa mga Portuguese authorities na pauwiin na siya. And that's the process that…'' he said. 

(We already requested a red notice before the Interpol and we continue to coordinate with Portuguese authorities so he can be brought home.) 

Marcos explained that the Philippine National Police has no jurisdiction over Portugal, adding that the host country should assist Philippine authorities in locating Co.

''You do not send your own police to go and pick him up kasi wala namang jurisdiction ang police doon sa kung saan ‘yung ibang bansa (our police have no jurisdiction there). So, they cannot arrest anyone. So, it will have to be with the assistance of the hosting country,'' Marcos said.

Co is facing charges of graft and malversation in connection with the alleged substandard P289 million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. He has maintained innocence over corruption allegations against him. 

In an exclusive report of GMA Integrated News last January, Co had emerged in Stockholm, Sweden at least on January 15 based on an apostille attached to a petition filed with the Supreme Court. 

An apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document.

Prior to that, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla reported that there was information that Co was in Lisbon, Portugal. —AOL, GMA Integrated News