Tiangco urges NBI action on Zaldy Co

Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco is urging the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to send a high-level delegation to the headquarters of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in Lyon, France, to personally follow up on its request for a red notice against former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co.

Tiangco said it was concerning that the NBI itself has acknowledged that it has yet to receive a response from Interpol, despite having filed the request months ago.

“It’s disappointing because the NBI has admitted they still haven’t received any answer from Interpol regarding their request for a red notice against Zaldy Co,” Tiangco said.

He noted that the NBI submitted the request on 23 November 2025, which typically takes three to four weeks for Interpol to process and respond to.

Given the delay, Tiangco said the NBI should now take a more aggressive approach by sending senior officials directly to Interpol headquarters to determine what is causing the holdup and to push the request forward.

“The NBI should show urgency. Time is of the essence, and they need to exhaust all possible means to bring Zaldy Co back to the country,” he said.

“As long as there is no red notice against Zaldy Co, he is free to move around and plan how to evade the cases filed against him,” Tiangco added.

He said the issuance of a red notice would significantly help authorities restrict Co’s movements and track his whereabouts.

A red notice is not an arrest warrant, but a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action, subject to each country’s laws.

“We need to be proactive. If normal channels like emails and follow-ups aren’t working, then we should take the initiative ourselves to get answers,” Tiangco said.

Co is facing corruption and malversation charges in connection with an alleged P289.5-million anomalous road dike project in Oriental Mindoro. He is also facing plunder charges filed by the NBI.

Based on the latest reports, Co signed his petition before the Supreme Court before a notary public in Nacka, Stockholm, Sweden, on 15 January.