PNP pursues absent Zaldy Co in Albay

Police personnel from two local stations in Albay have attempted to serve arrest warrants on former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co in connection with graft, malversation and falsificaton charges filed against for his alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects.

Operatives from the Sto. Domingo police went to the former lawmaker’s home in Barangay Lidong on Saturday, but he was not there.

“Nabigo ang grupo sapagkat ayon sa kanilang nakausap, matagal na nilang hindi nakikita at hindi na umuuwi ang nasabing mambabatas sa nabanggit na lugar,” the Albay Police Provincial Office said in a social media post.

(The group was unsuccessful in finding Co because, according to the people they spoke with, the lawmaker has not been seen in the area for a long time.)

Police from the Legazpi City station said Sunday that they also served the arrest warrant against Co and his alleged cohorts at the listed office address of Sunwest Inc. along Diversion Road in Barangay Bogtong.

However, none of the accused were present, and when their relatives and employees were asked, they said they did not know the individuals’ whereabouts.

Also on Saturday, Taguig City police attempted to serve an arrest warrant on Co at his condominium in Bonifacio Global City, but he was not found there either.

The police efforts come after Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla gave Co and his other co-respondents until Monday to turn themselves in; otherwise, they will be considered fugitives and the police will hunt them down, he said.

While still a sitting lawmaker, Co flew out of the country on July 19, supposedly to seek medical help in the United States.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection records show he arrived in New York on August 26 on a tourist visa.

Later, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said he was last seen in Japan after supposedly traveling through the U.S., Europe and Singapore. He has not been reported to have returned.

The Albay Police Provincial Office said it is their duty to serve the arrest warrant at the known addresses of the accused even if it is already known they are not there.

“Ang hakbang na ito ay base sa ating batas at kailangang gawin upang maibalik nila ang nasabing warrant sa korte na nag-isyu nito,” it added.

(This action is based on our laws and is necessary so that the warrant can be returned to the issuing court.)

The Albay police further explained that once an arrest warrant is served and it is confirmed that the accused is not at the specified location, the individual may then be classified as a fugitive.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos earlier announced that arrest warrants had been issued against Co, officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways, and directors of contracting firm Sunwest Corp.--MCG, GMA Integrated News