Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176551845868317623475631581761637603590Zaldy.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Zaldy Co. <em>Photo from Co&#x27;s Facebook page</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday stressed that possible extradition complications will not prevent authorities from eventually arresting former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, whose Philippine passport was recently canceled following the filing of criminal complaints against him.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/12/philippines-requests-interpol-red-notice-vs-zaldy-co-1010">Philippines requests Interpol red notice vs Zaldy Co</a></div><p>DILG Undersecretary for Public Affairs and Communications Donnie Puno said the agency has begun coordinating with the Portuguese government to verify reports that Co holds a Portuguese passport.</p><p>“There will always be ways. Sabi nga ni Sec [Jonvic Remulla], whatever those complications are, extradition complications, we&#x27;ll face those. But in the end, he&#x27;s confident, mahuhuli din natin,” Puno said.</p><p>He added that the cancellation of Co’s Philippine passport further limits his movements overseas.</p><p> “That makes his world a little smaller. His movements are going to be a little tougher while he&#x27;s overseas. So we will eliminate all of these challenges one by one.“</p><p>The DILG renewed its call for all individuals facing warrants of arrest to yield to authorities, noting the example of government contractor Sarah Discaya, who voluntarily surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).</p><p>“Mas mabuti na mag-surrender na kayo. I think that will make it easier for you and for everybody concerned,” Puno said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>NO THREATS AFTER DISCAYA SURRENDER</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Puno assured the public that there are no security risks tied to Discaya’s voluntary surrender to the NBI.</p><p>“Si Secretary Remulia, he&#x27;s been in close coordination with Secretary of Justice Vida about all of these arrests. They&#x27;ve made clear that the legal procedures will be followed,” Puno explained.</p><p>“There’s no worry about any security risks. Sabi nga ni Secretary, maganda nga na nag-surrender na si Sarah Discaya. That helps a lot,” he added.</p><p>Asked about possible detention facilities for the contractor, Puno said the matter will be left to the courts.</p><p>In a separate statement, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla reacted on claims that Discaya’s surrender is part of a legal strategy.</p><p>“Sa mata ng publiko, tapos na ‘to. Pero pagalingan na lang ng abogado ‘to eh. The Ombudsman is confident, the DOJ is very confident. Sila, may pera sila pambayad ng abugado. So titignan natin ang paligsahan dito sa korte,” Remulla said.</p><p>Remulla again urged other individuals with pending cases to cooperate with authorities, emphasizing that surrendering is always better than evading the law.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><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/8nMjiJdWn7A?&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/VKUklMv1-bs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The DILG on Friday stressed that possible extradition complications will not prevent authorities from eventually arresting former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co.</p>

The DILG on Friday stressed that possible extradition complications will not prevent authorities from eventually arresting former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co.

Extradition 'complications' won’t stop arrest of Zaldy Co: DILG

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Extradition 'complications' won’t stop arrest of Zaldy Co: DILG

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 12, 2025 01:49 PM PHT

Read More:

DILG

Sarah Discaya

Zaldy Co

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