By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Philippine government is moving to complete the requirements needed for international Red Notice requests against former lawmaker Zaldy Co and other fugitives facing criminal charges in the country, the Department of Justice said Thursday.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said the Philippine Center on Transnational Crimes (PCTC) and Manila Interpol are finalizing documents for the requests, raising the prospect of action by Interpol in the near term.
“Tingin po namin sa lalong madaling panahon, malapit na magkaroon ng kaganapan ‘yung ating kagustuhan na magkaroon ng Red Notice,” Vida said during a press briefing.
He stressed that the effort was not limited to Co, who is facing a P7.44-billion plunder case along with former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque is also among those being pursued, according to Vida. Roque faces anti-trafficking charges connected to Philippine offshore gaming operations, or POGOs.
A Red Notice is an international request for law enforcement authorities to locate and provisionally arrest a person wanted for prosecution or to serve a sentence, with a view toward extradition.
The DOJ statement came after reports that Ombudsman Boying Remulla and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla had separately traveled to France as Philippine authorities intensified efforts to locate Co.
Jonvic Remulla earlier said he would meet with Interpol officials in Lyon, where the organization is headquartered, while Boying Remulla was expected to coordinate with French authorities in Paris.
Vida also said the Philippines is expanding coordination with foreign governments and international agencies to prevent asylum mechanisms from being used to avoid legal proceedings at home.
He said the government has consistently invoked the United Nations Convention Against Corruption in its dealings with other countries, emphasizing that corruption should not provide a basis for fugitives to find a safe haven abroad.
Malacañang confirmed in April that Co was seeking political asylum in France. The DOJ said Thursday that Roque had likewise applied for asylum, in Austria.
Vida clarified, however, that the Philippine government does not formally oppose asylum applications filed by fugitives.
He explained that an outright government opposition could potentially reinforce claims that an applicant is being politically persecuted.
The government’s position, he said, is that there is no political oppression involved and that individuals facing criminal cases should instead answer to the Philippine justice system.
“Wala naman pong political oppression na nangyayari. Ang gusto lang natin managot sila sa sistemang legal ng Pilipinas,” Vida said.
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