President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has instructed the government to pursue an extradition treaty with Portugal to facilitate the arrest and repatriation of former lawmaker Zaldy Co, according to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla

In a Palace press briefing on Tuesday, Remulla said the President has already directed the formal application for an extradition treaty, even though no such agreement currently exists between the two countries.

“Pero nagbigay ng instruction si President, formally (The President instructed us to formally apply for an extradition treaty),” Remulla said. 

Even without an existing treaty, Remulla said the government we will request Zaldy Co’s repatriation through Interpol if he is indeed in Portugal.

“Mag-apply na kami ng extradition treaty sa kanila, kahit wala pang formal extradition treaties between the two countries,” he said. 

Remulla explained that authorities believe Co may be in Portugal and may even hold a Portuguese passport. However, he noted that this information is based on records that are roughly ten years old and still need verification.

Last year, Marcos announced that arrest warrants had been issued against Zaldy Co and 15 others, including officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways and directors of Sunwest Corp., in connection with alleged irregularities in flood control projects.

The move followed the Office of the Ombudsman’s filing of corruption and malversation of public funds charges with the Sandiganbayan on November 18. The charges stemmed from a reportedly anomalous P289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

Co has yet to return to the Philippines as investigations into budget insertions and flood control projects continue. He reportedly left the country for medical reasons.

The former Ako Bicol party-list representative has denied any involvement in corrupt practices. Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan has declared Co a “fugitive from justice” and ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs to cancel his Philippine passport.

The DILG chief also provided updates on other fugitives. 

He said former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s passport has been canceled, making his return to the Philippines a matter of time. 

“Pagdating kay Harry Roque, cancelled na ang passport niya, so it’s only a matter of time na pagbabalik na siya dito,” he said.

Meanwhile, former Cordillera governor Bantag is reportedly last tracked in the Cordillera region, with authorities continuing to monitor his movements, according to Remulla.