DFA: Co’s passport still active

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday said it had not received a court order to cancel the Philippine passport of embattled former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co. 

“The DFA has not received any court order instructing the cancellation of Zaldy Co’s passport,” DFA spokesperson Angelica Escalona said in a text message. 

The DFA disputed the statement of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla who claimed that Co’s passport had been canceled. 

“From what I know, his passport has already been canceled,” said Remulla in Filipino in a Palace press briefing. 

He added that Co is suspected to be in Portugal and holding a Portuguese golden visa. 

Residence via investment  

This visa is a residency-by-investment program that allows non-EU nationals to obtain a five-year residence permit by making an eligible investment — either €500,000 in investment funds, €500,000 in research, or €250,000 for cultural or heritage projects.

“We believe he is a holder of two passports, not only a visa, but two passports. That’s where we have a bit of a complication,” Remulla said.

He called on overseas Filipinos to help the government find Co. 

Co was among those linked to alleged ghost flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways and to anomalous insertions in the national budget.