The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday said it has not received any court order to cancel the Philippine passport of former Ako Bicol Party List 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 clarification follows the statement of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla claiming that Co’s passport had already been cancelled. 

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

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

This visa is a residency-by-investment programs that allows non-EU nationals to obtain a five-year residence permit by making an eligible investment such as €500,000 in investment funds, €500,000 in research,  €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,” he said.

Remulla called on overseas Filipinos to help the Philippine government locate Co’s whereabouts. 

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