Tips on Zaldy location coming in, says antigraft exec
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano on Tuesday said authorities had started receiving substantial information from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) regarding the whereabouts of resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co.
The former lawmaker is now considered a fugitive after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with the graft and malversation charges filed by the Ombudsman against Co and 15 others over a P289.5-million road dike project in Oriental Mindoro.
“Yes, we have,” Clavano said in Filipino in an interview on DZMM when asked if they have received substantial tips from OFWs.
“We have received information, which is probably why (Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic) Remulla announced that Co is in Portugal.”
Possibly in Portugal
In a briefing in Malacañang on Monday, Remulla said Co was believed to be hiding in Portugal and may already be using a Portuguese passport he acquired “many years ago”.
Remulla called on Filipinos abroad, should they encounter Co, to “take pictures of him and send them to authorities or post over the Internet so we will have an idea about his whereabouts.”
The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) has issued a blue notice on Co to gather information on his location.
The Philippine government expects that an Interpol red notice would soon follow to have Co arrested.
Also on Tuesday, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco called out the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for its “disturbing lack of urgency” in suspending Co’s passport.
DFA called out anew
In a statement, Tiangco, who was among the first to link Co to the scandal since President Marcos launched his anti-corruption crusade in August, reiterated his call for the DFA to act swiftly on the matter.
“Co is now facing a slew of cases but the DFA appears to be asleep at the wheel and indifferent to the anger of the public,” he said.
“(Interior Secretary) Remulla himself said that Co may now have a Portuguese passport. So I don’t understand why the DFA refuses to act,” he added. “We know how important he is to the investigation into anomalous flood control projects so it is only right that we compel him to come home and face justice.”
The DFA earlier confirmed that Co’s passport remained active pending the issuance of a court order that revokes his right to travel.
