MANILA — The Philippine government has sought the assistance of Portugal to locate and possibly return former lawmaker Zaldy Co to the country after he was linked to alleged irregularities in flood control projects, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said.
Marcos confirmed that Philippine authorities are coordinating with Portuguese officials and have also requested the issuance of an International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) Red Notice to help track Co’s whereabouts abroad.
“You cannot bring him home because that is not the way it works. We have to ask the assistance of the country where he is in, which is presently Portugal. So, that’s what we have done,” the President said.
Marcos explained that Philippine authorities cannot simply arrest a person overseas because local law enforcement agencies have no jurisdiction outside the country.
“That’s the process. You do not send your own police to go and pick him up kasi wala namang jurisdiction ang pulis doon sa ibang bansa (because our police officers have no jurisdiction over other countries),” he said.
“So, they cannot arrest anyone. So, it will have to be the assistance of the hosting country,” he added.
The President said the government has already sought the issuance of an Interpol Red Notice, which alerts law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition or similar legal proceedings based on a warrant issued by the requesting country.
Co, who has been linked to alleged irregularities involving flood control projects, is believed to be staying in Portugal.
Although his Philippine passport has been cancelled, reports indicated that he had previously obtained a Portuguese passport, which could allow him to remain in the European country./PN
