The Office of the Ombudsman said it will press ahead with its prosecution of former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co despite reported efforts to halt the proceedings, as disclosures indicate the fugitive lawmaker surfaced in Sweden while seeking relief from the Supreme Court.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the agency would not be diverted from pursuing the case. “The Office of the Ombudsman will not be distracted by dilatory tactics meant to derail the in-depth investigation into his illegal and corrupt acts. We will stay focused,” Clavano said.

Reports said Co filed a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court seeking a temporary restraining order against the Ombudsman’s resolution ordering his indictment and asking the high court to stop the prosecution of his cases before the Sandiganbayan. 

Supreme Court spokesperson Atty. Camille Sue Mae Ting said the petition will be included in the Court’s agenda and acted upon in due course.

When asked whether Co’s petition could be affected by Supreme Court rulings barring fugitives from seeking judicial relief, Ting said this would depend on how the Court ultimately acts on the petition. 

The Court earlier clarified that a fugitive from justice includes one who flees after being charged to evade prosecution and may be barred from seeking relief.

Co, who has resigned from his party-list post and remains at large, faces an arrest warrant from the anti-graft court for graft and malversation charges tied to a road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. 

‘Not guilty’

Nine co-accused from the Department of Public Works and Highways-Mimaropa have earlier entered not guilty pleas.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said documents attached to Co’s petition showed an apostille from Sweden, indicating the former lawmaker appeared in Stockholm on 15 January. 

An apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document for use abroad. Records showed the petition included a certification dated 15 January stating that Co appeared before a notary public in Stockholm, with an apostille stamped and sealed by Beatrice Gustafsson.

Remulla said the petition, filed on 25 January, accused Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla of grave abuse of discretion in finding probable cause and pursuing the case, and claimed Co was not properly notified and was denied copies of records. 

Co also alleged the Ombudsman conducted the investigation with undue haste. Earlier, authorities had said Co was believed to be in a gated community in Lisbon, Portugal. 

Remulla noted that travel within European Union states is largely borderless, making movement between countries easier. He said the President intends to raise the matter with the Portuguese leader. 

“The President said he will take steps to speak with the President of Portugal to resolve this,” Remulla said.

On Co’s possible travel from Portugal to Sweden, Remulla said this could have been done overland.