Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Wednesday said he remains hopeful that fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co will eventually be arrested, despite the challenges posed by his alleged use of a Portuguese passport.

“Hindi ako nawawalan ng pag-asa, kasi maliit ang mundo at lalong maliit ang mundo niya,” Remulla said in a radio interview. “Puwede siya magkamali, puwede tayong swertehin, puwede tayong through negotiations, pagbigyan tayo ng Portuguese government.”

Remulla said one key complication is that the Philippines has no extradition treaty with Portugal, where Co is reportedly hiding.

“Ang latest din po namin ay nasa Portugal siya using a Portuguese passport. So as of now, wala tayong extradition treaty with Portugal kaya tingin namin doon siya nagtatago,” he said.

“Ang pagkaalam ko, if the crime committed before the acquisition of the passport, hindi siya chargeable. Kung after the acquisition, puwede siyang i-repatriate,” he added.

The DILG chief also dismissed the possibility of involving Interpol, citing Portugal’s strict policies.

“So we have to work on other means para ma-repatriate siya,” he said.

Remulla said Co may have obtained the Portuguese passport around seven years ago.

Arrest warrants have been issued against Co and several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways, along with directors of Sunwest Corp., over allegedly anomalous flood control projects.

On 18 November, the Ombudsman filed corruption and malversation charges before the Sandiganbayan against Co and other individuals in connection with the P289-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

Co has since denied the allegations.