Manila, Philippines – Almost three weeks since 2026 started, but resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co is still in hiding and a fugitive from justice amid flood control corruption cases.
Co left the Philippines July last year for a scheduled medical check up overseas, months before he was implicated in the flood control anomalies and budget insertion scandal which he has denied since then.
Despite a cancelled Philippine passport and an active arrest warrant against him, Co remains outside the country, evading the law.
Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla reported that their latest leads point out that Co may be in Portugal, holding a Portuguese passport.
Remulla noted that the President has ordered the government agencies to initiate an extradition treaty with Portugal to gain custody of Co.
An extradition request is a formal diplomatic plea requesting a foreign country to surrender custody of an accused or convicted individual back to his/her country.
Aside from this, Remulla said that the Philippines have also reached out to the International Police to seek repatriation of Co if he is indeed hiding in Portugal.
Remulla meanwhile clarified that the Philippines will only seek legal means anmd remedies in arresting Co or other individuals.