Rowegie Abanto

A screengrab from a video released by former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co implicating President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the insertion of P100-B worth of projects in the General Appropriations Act (GAA). Courtesy of Zaldy Co

 

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A screengrab from a video released by former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co
 

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RjYgz1g_9Yw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — What happens if former congressman Zaldy Co stays in a country that has no extradition treaty with the Philipines?</p><p>For Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, this is a &quot;million dollar question&quot; that the justice and foreign affairs departments could later resolve.</p><p>Co — who is facing allegations of inserting billions of pesos in the national budget that later funded anomalous flood relief projects to allegedly get kickbacks — has been out of the country since July.</p><p>The Sandiganbayan has issued <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/21/arrest-warrant-out-for-zaldy-co-others-tagged-in-flood-control-mess-marcos-jr-1635">arrest warrants for Co and several others</a> in relation to the infrastructure scandal, but the resigned Ako Bicol representative has yet to be captured by authorities.</p><p>The Philippines has extradition treaties with several countries, which allow it to request the surrender of an individual for criminal prosecution or punishment.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/27/sc-local-courts-given-30-days-to-decide-on-extradition-cases-1158">SC: Local courts given 30 days to decide on extradition cases</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/24/zaldy-co-3-other-flood-control-suspects-out-of-the-country-1044">Zaldy Co, 3 other flood control suspects out of the country</a></div><p>But there are nations without extradition agreements with Manila, like Russia, China, Portugal, and Malaysia, noted Remulla.</p><p>He said that it would be &quot;impossible&quot; to have Co extradited to the Philippines if he chooses to stay in those countries, noting that Co could now be in China.</p><p>&quot;If the State refuses to cooperate, there is nothing we can do. We can&#x27;t send a team there to extract him, that would be a violation of the sovereign laws of that country. So it is a matter of the international community coming together,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Zaldy Co is a poor man with a lot of money. He has all the money in the world but none of it buys him his freedom, happiness, comfort,&quot; Remulla said, urging Co to return to the country and face his charges.</p><p>The DILG said Monday the International Criminal Police Organization had issued a blue notice that could help in the arrest of Co, who authorities suspect <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/24/dilg-interpol-blue-notice-out-vs-zaldy-co-ex-solon-may-be-traveling-with-another-passport-0947">could be traveling with a non-Philippine passport</a>.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/18/lawmakers-urge-ex-colleague-zaldy-co-to-return-to-ph-answer-questions-0930">Lawmakers urge ex-colleague Zaldy Co to return to PH, answer questions</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jyyRK2DCfUQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1W3AH8poKEA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RSdtA79ieW4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>What happens if former congressman Zaldy Co stays in a country that has no extradition treaty with the Philipines?</p>

What happens if former congressman Zaldy Co stays in a country that has no extradition treaty with the Philipines?

What happens if Zaldy Co stays in country that has no extradition treaty with PH?

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What happens if Zaldy Co stays in country that has no extradition treaty with PH?

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 26, 2025 12:05 PM PHT

Read More:

Zaldy Co

Extradition

Jonvic Remulla

Flood Control

Flood Control Scandal

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