Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla expressed commitment to provide protection to resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co if he chooses to return to the country.
“He can buy the best security needed and we can give him protection… I think if you have to give credit to the president, he has not espoused any form of violence whatsoever, he has espoused human rights,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
Remulla said the government is willing to extend assistance to Co, whose location has yet to be identified, but underscored that they need witnesses alive. He stressed that arrangements can be made to ensure he will not be exposed to any danger, including the use of personnel wearing body-worn cameras to document his arrival.
While the Ombudsman is already studying the individuals mentioned by the former lawmaker in his video, Remulla said it is important for Co to return to the country to swear by the contents of his affidavit. He added that the Office of the Ombudsman has not pre-judged the case, noting that they are prosecutors and not a court, and that three separate Sandiganbayan divisions will handle the criminal cases filed against Co.
There are also legal remedies available to bring Co back to the country once an arrest warrant is issued, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said. He noted that they sought a special raffle before the Sandiganbayan to expedite the issuance of the warrant related to the first case filed over anomalous flood-control projects.
Clavano said potential measures include the cancellation of Co’s passport and the issuance of an Interpol red notice, which would obligate member countries to arrest and deport or extradite him. Once served with the warrant, he said respondents will be detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology pending trial, before possible transfer to the Bureau of Corrections upon conviction.
He added that Remulla has discussed with the Supreme Court the conduct of continuous trials to prevent delays. Clavano stressed that Co’s statements must be corroborated with evidence and that the priority is to file “airtight” cases in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive.
