Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday said they have started coordinating with Portuguese authorities in connection with former lawmaker Zaldy Co, who is facing an arrest warrant over alleged flood control funds corruption.

In a radio interview, the DILG Secretary said that the cancellation of Co’s Philippine passport will limit his movement abroad, but the lawmaker’s alleged Portuguese passport may complicate the situation.

“Ang alinlangan lang namin dyan ay kung totoo yung balita na may Portuguese passport siya, magiging mas komplikado ang bagay,” Remulla said. “Nakikipag-ugnayan na tayo (sa Portugal). Except, again, yung international law takes a long time. Matagal na proseso iyan,” he added.

Co already has an arrest warrant, which has also been issued against officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and directors of Sunwest Corp., which is owned by the former lawmaker, over anomalous flood control projects.

On 18 November, the Ombudsman filed with the Sandiganbayan corruption and malversation of public funds charges against Co and others. The charges were in connection with the alleged anomalous P289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.