By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla will travel to France to pursue a renewed International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) red notice request against ousted Ako Bicol Party-list congressman Zaldy Co, who remains wanted in connection with the multibillion-peso flood control scandal.
Remulla made the announcement Tuesday during a press briefing at Camp Crame, saying he would personally follow up the request with Interpol in Lyon, where the international police organization is headquartered.
He is expected to travel to France together with Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, who will separately pursue diplomatic efforts with authorities regarding Co.
“We are filing a red notice for Zaldy Co again,” Remulla said, adding that he would coordinate directly with Interpol while the Ombudsman handles diplomatic discussions.
An Interpol red notice serves as an international request for law enforcement agencies to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender or similar legal proceedings. The Philippine government first filed a red notice request against Co in April.
Co’s last reported location was Prague, Czech Republic, after Philippine authorities had previously traced his movements through Europe.
Remulla said the government’s search for Co and other individuals accused in the alleged flood control anomalies remains active.
The Interior chief, however, declined to disclose whether his office or the Philippine National Police had received any indications that Co or other suspects were preparing to surrender.
“I will work with the Interpol, he will work with the diplomatic efforts to get Zaldy Co,” Remulla said.
Co is facing an arrest warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan in connection with a plunder case involving more than P7 billion in alleged kickbacks tied to various government projects.
The same case also resulted in an arrest warrant against Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez, who was arrested Monday night at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City after being confined there following what was described as a cardiovascular event.
Co’s movements abroad had previously drawn the attention of Philippine authorities. In April, he was tracked traveling by land from Portugal to France before reaching Prague, where he was reportedly found without proper documentation after his Philippine passport had been canceled.
Czech authorities subsequently released him, while Philippine authorities continued efforts to locate him.
With the renewed Interpol request, Remulla said the government is again moving through international law-enforcement channels as authorities continue efforts to locate Co and bring him before the Philippine courts.
ia/xf
