MARCOS WANTS ZALDY CO RETURNED TO PH

Posted by ReyFort Media

Orders review of all options, including extradition

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered relevant agencies to review all available options that would expedite the return to the country of former Ako Bicol party-list congressman Zaldy Co, including the possible forging of an extradition deal with Portugal where the fugitive solon was last reported seen, according to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

Co is facing graft and malversation of funds charges in relation to an alleged massive corruption scheme involving flood control and other infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The Sandiganbayan has issued an arrest warrant against Co and has tagged him as a “fugitive from justice” amid reports that he had fled the country to escape prosecution.

Remulla disclosed the President’s directive during a briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, where he reiterated that authorities have reliable information that Co is hiding in Portugal and is using a Portuguese passport.

“We are still studying the possibility of applying for the extradition of Zaldy Co from Portugal. The problem here, though, is that we do not have an extradition treaty with Portugal,” he said in mixed English and Filipino.

An extradition treaty is a formal agreement between two countries that they will return fugitives facing charges in their home country to face trial.

Remulla said that while there is no existing extradition deal between the Philippines and Portugal, Manila can seek the assistance of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), and the United Nations, among others, to bring back Co.

“Extradition is almost impossible because we do not have a treaty. But there are other avenues we are studying to get him,” he said.

He added that extradition would be the last resort since the process of forging an extradition agreement between the Philippines and Portugal would take years to finish and set up.

Asked if the Philippines could request Portugal to assist in the arrest and return of Co, similar to what Manila did to arrest and bring back former Negros Oriental congressman and designated terrorist Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. from East Timor, Remulla said he is not sure about the relations of Marcos with Portugal.

In the case of Teves, he said Marcos talked with Timor Leste officials during the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) meeting last year.

DENIED

Co’s lawyers have failed to convince the Sandiganbayan to recall its December 10, 2025 directive for the cancellation of his passport by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and declaring him a fugitive from justice.

The anti-graft court’s Fifth Division, in a nine-page resolution, denied on Tuesday the Urgent Motion for Reconsideration filed by the law office of Rondain and Mendiola on behalf of the former lawmaker wherein the defense invoked the defendant’s right to due process.

Defense lawyers claimed Co’s camp was not duly furnished by the prosecution with a copy of its motion to cancel Co’s passport, saying the Office of the Ombudsman only transmitted a copy to his counsel via email on December 10, 2025.

Since the rule allows the defense five days to comment, they said Co had until December 15, 2025 to respond.

Co’s lawyers said they were surprised to receive a copy of the December 10, 2025 resolution granting the prosecution’s request for the cancellation of Co’s passport and declaring him a fugitive from justice which effectively stripped him of his standings in court.

The defense said the court was misled into believing that Co did not file a comment or opposition when the truth was, he was unable to do so due to the prosecution’s “deliberate delay in providing him with a copy of the motion.”

The defense stressed that the motion had a direct effect on the former congressman’s substantive rights, hence he should have been afforded all opportunities to mount a challenge. But in the absence of an official copy of the prosecution’s motion, it said Co was denied due process.

Prosecutors denied that it deliberately delayed the service of its motion to Co and said that it moved for the cancellation of the former legislator’s passport upon learning that the warrants of arrest have not been served to the accused.

Co was named defendant in a malversation case and two counts of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) in relation to alleged irregularities attending the P289.5 million Flood Mitigation Structures Protecting Major/Strategic Public Buildings/Facilities – Construction of Road Dike Along Mag-Asawang Tubig River in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

Prosecutors said the project used substandard materials and did not comply with the project specifications.

Among his co-accused were officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Mimaropa Region 4B and executives of contractor Sunwest Inc. with Co tagged as the beneficial owner.

“It is undisputed that accused Co remains beyond the reach of the court. He has not voluntarily surrendered or submitted to arrest. In view of his status as a fugitive from justice… the court was unable to entertain accused Co’s pleadings and defenses and applied the ‘fugitive disentitlement doctrine,’” the Sandiganbayan said.

As long as Co remains at large, the court stressed that he is not entitled to seek affirmative relief, including his Urgent Motion for Reconsideration.

Associate Justice Zaldy Trespeses penned the resolution with Associate Justices Gener Gito and Kevin Narce Vivero concurring.  (J. Reyes with P. Tabingo/ Malaya)