PH Seeks Portugal’s Help in Arresting Zaldy Co
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippine government is working with authorities in Portugal to locate and arrest former lawmaker Zaldy Co, who has been evading arrest for several months.
Speaking to reporters, Marcos explained that Philippine law enforcement cannot directly apprehend Co abroad because they have no jurisdiction outside the country. Instead, authorities must rely on cooperation from the host nation where the fugitive is believed to be staying.
The president confirmed that Co is currently in Portugal and that the Philippine government has formally sought assistance from Portuguese authorities to facilitate his arrest and eventual return to the Philippines.
Interpol Notice Issued
To support the effort, the government has requested a red notice from the International Criminal Police Organization. Such a notice alerts law enforcement agencies in member countries to locate and temporarily detain a wanted individual while extradition or other legal proceedings are arranged.
The request was filed by the National Bureau of Investigation, which is coordinating with international law enforcement partners through its International Operations Division.
Charges and Court Action
Co is facing graft and malversation charges related to a P289.5-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro, allegedly linked to a contractor with which he had connections.
The Sandiganbayan has already declared him a fugitive from justice and ordered a writ of preliminary attachment on 16 of his properties. The order allows the court to hold the assets while legal proceedings continue, securing more than P215 million in alleged civil liabilities tied to the case.
Although the arrest warrant was issued in November 2025, Co had already left the country months earlier, shortly after the administration began investigating alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
Meanwhile, the former lawmaker has a pending petition before the Supreme Court of the Philippines seeking to overturn the finding of probable cause by the Office of the Ombudsman that led to the filing of charges against him.
