Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday said fugitive former lawmaker Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co was still in Portugal, as he stressed that the law applies to all, including his friend in detention, former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.

Remulla said Co is believed to be in Lisbon based on ongoing surveillance. “He is in Portugal. We’re pretty certain he is in Lisbon, in a gated community. He rarely leaves the house,” Remulla said.

He said there were people conducting surveillance, but there were difficulties in accessing the area.

“We have operatives monitoring him, conducting surveillance. But he rarely leaves the house. He stays inside. We cannot enter that gated community,” Remulla said.

He said the effort to arrest Co is complicated by the absence of an extradition treaty between the Philippines and Portugal, and reports that Co holds a Portuguese passport.

“The government will apply all the pressure necessary. Right now, all his assets are close to being seized. All his money here is on hold. All his properties, all his businesses, are being taken by the government. Anyone would fight that, in all legal ways. We will not do anything illegal,” he said.

Arrest warrants were issued against Co and others, including Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, in November 2025, as well as officials of Co’s Sunwest Corp., over alleged anomalous flood control projects.

Duty first

Remulla also spoke about Revilla’s surrender and detention, saying their personal relationship cannot override the government’s duty to enforce the law.

“Who among you has a friend who went to jail? It pains me to see a friend go to jail, but my commitment to the country goes beyond friendship,” Remulla said.

He said public office demands fidelity to duty and equal application of the law, even when enforcement involves close friends and long-time associates.

“We will put the country first. We have our fidelity to duty and it cannot be broken by friendship and by brotherhood,” Remulla said.

“It is our commitment to the country. It is our commitment to the President. It is our commitment to our job,” he added.

Remulla said Revilla and six others are currently held in separate cells under the mandatory seven-day quarantine required for all newly admitted detainees to check for infectious diseases.

“After the seven days, they will be incorporated into the general jail population,” he said.

The DILG secretary said Revilla is being treated as a regular inmate and wears the standard Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-issued clothing.

Senator, shoplifter the same

“He’s a regular inmate at the Payatas City Jail, just to be clear,” Remulla said.

He added that jail rules are being strictly enforced, including restrictions on food deliveries, cooking, and gadget use.

“Gadgets are prohibited. He has no gadget inside. No cellphone, no iPad, no personal computer,” Remulla said, noting that limited gadget use is allowed only during legal consultations.

Remulla reiterated that no special treatment is being accorded to Revilla.

“The privileges of a senator are the same as the privileges of a shoplifter. They are the same,” he said.