𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗝𝗔𝗕: 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗶𝗻𝗼𝘆𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲: “𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗭𝗮𝗹𝗱𝘆 𝗖𝗼? 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla fired off a nationwide—and global—alert on Monday, urging Filipinos abroad to help locate former Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Co, now a fugitive at the center of the multibillion-peso flood control corruption scandal. Remulla said Co is believed to be hiding in Portugal and may be using a Portuguese passport or “golden visa” to slip around Europe undetected.

With no extradition treaty between the Philippines and Portugal, Remulla admitted bringing Co home will be difficult. Still, he said the DFA, DILG, DOJ, and Ombudsman are moving under a “whole-of-government approach” to track him, noting that Interpol has already issued a Blue Notice, with a Red Notice possibly next.

Remulla also sought to assure the public that the crackdown won’t stop with small players, saying authorities are now closing in on the “sharks and whales” of the flood control scam—a promise amplified by the President’s commitment to jail at least 37 individuals before Christmas. Co, accused of receiving billions in kickbacks while chairing the House appropriations committee, remains one of the most high-profile fugitives.

Meanwhile, the PNP’s CIDG said two Sunwest executives linked to Co have begun sending surrender feelers, while a DPWH official included in the same indictment was last traced to Israel. As Remulla put it: “Capturing them is not the issue. It’s the wheels of justice we’re waiting for.”

Images from PNP FB / Rep. Zaldy Co FB