Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla is set to meet with the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime to firm up the push for an Interpol red notice against resigned congressman Zaldy Co, who is believed to be in Portugal based on the latest intelligence available to authorities.
The National Bureau of Investigation has already filed an application for the red notice. Remulla said Thursday the government is pressing ahead despite the absence of an extradition treaty with Portugal, which had previously complicated efforts to secure Co’s arrest.
“We will ask for it even if there’s none; we will try everything to get him,” Remulla said.
Several properties linked to Co have been frozen, including residences in Forbes Park, Valle Verde, and Shangri-La, along with business interests that include Midas Casino.
“If a red notice is issued, we believe we can take action in Portugal. We’ll try our best,” Remulla said.
Co and 17 others are facing charges before the Sandiganbayan over allegedly anomalous flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro. The anti-graft court issued warrants of arrest and hold departure orders against them last November 21.
