PNP chief Nartatez: Atong Ang, Zaldy Co arrest 'soon'

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday expressed confidence that authorities will eventually arrest businessman Atong Ang and former lawmaker Zaldy Co, who are facing separate high-profile cases.

In an ambush interview, PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said law enforcement teams continue to pursue leads, backed by operational plans and inter-agency coordination.

“So far, we don’t have a significant update, but our personnel are working based on documented information and established procedures to ensure our operations are in order,” he said.

“May corresponding operational plan iyan, at patuloy na tinututukan ng ating mga team. Soon, mahuhuli din natin sila,” he added.

(It has a corresponding operational plan, and our teams are continuously working on it. Soon, we will catch them.)

Arrest warrants have been issued against Ang and several others for multiple counts of kidnapping with homicide and kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the missing sabungeros case.

Ang has denied the allegations against him. An Interpol red notice was issued against him in April, which is a request to law enforcement authorities worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition or similar legal action.

He was reportedly spotted in Calabarzon in April, and a P20 million reward has been offered for information leading to his arrest.

Meanwhile, arrest warrants were also issued against Co and 17 others, including officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and directors of Sunwest Corp., over alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

The Office of the Ombudsman has filed graft and malversation charges against Co and his co-accused before the Sandiganbayan in connection with a supposed anomalous P289-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

Prosecutors said the project, reportedly undertaken by Sunwest Corp., a firm owned by Co’s immediate family members, was non-existent and substandard.

Co has denied the allegations.

On April 16, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Co had been detained in Prague after being stopped at the German border due to travel document issues.

However, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida later said Co was no longer in the custody of Czech authorities.

Co was reportedly in France as of May 1, according to Philippine Ambassador to France Eduardo de Vega.