DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla said yesterday that unseated Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co must have siphoned out of the country some P5 billion through cryptocurrency.
Meanwhile, Palace Press Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Philippine government is open to tapping the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) treaty to track down and arrest lawmaker-turned-fugitive Zaldy Co.
Remulla said the information about the money transfer involving significant amounts came directly from Co’s former associates.
“He is a poor man with a lot of money, but not all the money in the world can solve his problems,” Remulla in a televised interview with Bilyonaryo.
“What we know is that he, through crypto, transferred around P5 billion overseas,” he added.
According to Remulla, Co was believed to be in Portugal using a Portuguese passport.
The secretary said under Portuguese law, citizens are usually not extradited, although there is a slim chance if the crime was committed before Co obtained Portuguese citizenship.
“If the crime was committed prior to the acquisition of the passport, then we have a chance,” said Remulla, adding it has been about 10 years since Co acquired the Portuguese citizenship.
“We’re going to use all avenues to bring him back here… eventually it’ll catch up with him. If he leaves Portugal in any way, he will be arrested,” he added.
In a press briefing, Castro disclosed that the government is coordinating with relevant authorities and the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) for the issuance of a Red Notice on Co.
“Yes, we can explore UNCAC as it has international cooperation mechanisms, but it will have to depend on the country. Countries are obliged to provide as applicable and in accord with domestic law [unclear] possible mutual legal assistance to each other. However, Presidential UNCAC Inter-Agency Committee with the ES as chair should be convened as it implements and monitors UNCAC,” Castro said, citing Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson broached the idea of tapping the UNCAC to locate Co who faces charges of malversation and graft related to alleged flood control anomalies.
