DILG chief to overseas Pinoys: Take Co’s photo, post on socmed
In a bid to tighten the net around former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, the government is asking overseas Filipinos to take a photo of the fugitive ex-lawmaker and post it online.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla made the appeal on Monday as he said Co is believed to be hiding in Portugal, which does not have an extradition treaty with the Philippines.
“We are appealing to Filipinos worldwide – if you see Zaldy Co, take a photo of him and post it online so we can have an idea where he is,” Remulla said in a press briefing at the Palace.
He said Co is suspected to be holding a Portuguese passport.
“We believe he is in Europe, suspected to be in Portugal. We believe he is a holder of two passports – not only a visa but two passports. We will have a bit of a complication because of that,” Remulla said.
He said the DILG, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Justice, and the Ombudsman are working to attain “a satisfying outcome on the repatriation of Co.”
The DFA said it has yet to receive a court order to cancel Co’s passport.
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure earlier recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges against Co and seven incumbent congressmen over their alleged involvement in government projects.
According to a Bilyonaryo News Channel exclusive report, Co may have received up to P10.41 billion in kickbacks from various government projects from 2023 to 2025 based on the freeze order secured by the Anti-Money Laundering Council against the ex-lawmaker’s assets.
This was contrary to Co’s earlier claim that he did not receive a single peso in kickback from anomalous flood control projects.
“I want to make it clear that I did not take part in the actual process of splitting the amounts. The money only passed through me,” Co said in one of the videos he released on social media.
Investigators also reported that Co appeared to have retained financial control of SunWest Construction and Development Corp., noting that several of his frozen accounts were jointly held with the firm.
Based on AMLC records, among Co’s frozen assets were 205 bank accounts, 12 insurance policies, two AW139 helicopters valued at approximately P919.1 million each, and a Gulfstream G350 jet estimated at over P2 billion.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. earlier ordered transport and aviation officials to work with their counterparts in Malaysia and Singapore to locate aircraft allegedly linked to Co.
In a video statement, Mr. Marcos said the Department of Transportation and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines have been instructed to verify reports that helicopters and a private jet registered under Misibis Aviation & Development Corp. were flown out of the country and are being kept abroad.
“You cannot steal from the Filipino people and expect to hide or fly away on your private jets,” the President said.
“You may have the money to run, but you cannot outrun the Republic of the Philippines,” he added.
