INTERIOR and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Monday sought the help of overseas Filipinos for the arrest of former representative and now international fugitive Zaldy Co.
“Nakikiusap kami sa lahat ng mga Pilipino sa buong mundo na kung makita nila si Zaldy Co, kung puwede nilang picturan at ipost kaagad sa internet para may idea tayo kung nasaan siya,” he said during the press briefing in Malacañang.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. earlier urged Co to return to the Philippines. He assured the public that the current probe into flood control projects will not lead to a disappointing conclusion.
Co has been implicated in the biggest corruption issue involving ghost flood control projects in the Department of Public Works and Highways and budget insertions in the House of Representatives.
Remulla said Co is suspected to be currently in Portugal, holding a Portuguese passport. “We believe he is a holder of two passports. Not only a visa, but two passports. Doon ‘yung may complications tayo nang konti.”
Remulla underscored that a whole-of-government approach is currently being implemented to ensure the arrest of Co. He added that the DILG, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Justice, and the Ombudsman are working to attain “a satisfying outcome on the repatriation of Co.”
He said the details of the repatriation of the former congressman are in the works and being tackled by the DFA.
Meanwhile, Remulla said that the persons involved in the ghost project controversy will definitely be arrested following the critical protocols of the Ombudsman which will issue the warrants of arrests. He said that the cue for identifying reasonable certainty for conviction falls with the Ombudsman and once it’s filed, the arrest will ensue.
“Capturing them is not the issue, they’re in the Philippines. Mahahanap ‘yan. It is the wheels of justice turning, and hinihintay natin,” he added.
He likewise renewed his earlier pronouncement of the capture of “bigger fish” involved in the said corruption scandal.
