Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Cong. Zaldy Co at Cong. Jil Bongalon lead the turn-over of Solar Home Systems in Brgy. Galicia, Rapu-Rapu, Albay on May 23, 2025.   AKo Bicol Partylisyt

Article (news)

Rep. Zaldy Co

Karen De Guzman

Job Manahan

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/176897053516620251114-ako-bicol-rep-zaldy-co-ABPL9.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Cong. Zaldy Co</span></span></span>MANILA — Former congressman Zaldy Co has reportedly sent &quot;feelers&quot; through intermediaries with the intention to get in touch with Philippine authorities, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Wednesday.</div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/13/philippines-to-request-zaldy-co-repatriation-from-portugal-dilg-1151">Philippines seeks Interpol aid to repatriate Zaldy Co from Portugal</a></div><p>DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the information was still being verified. </p><p>“Meron na siyang feelers through sa mga ibang pari na kilala niya. Not exactly [susuko], parang nagpa-pakonekta, gusto ng dialogue sa amin pero that’s not verified, parang nagsabi pa lang, sinabi ng kaibigan ng kaibigan na pinaparating,” Remulla said.</p><p>Asked how the government was treat such feelers, he said, “Siyempre we take them seriously, ‘yung gusto makipag-dialogue, kakausapin namin ‘yan. Pero kung bribe ay huwag na.”</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1443115844126789%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Co, a central figure in the flood control projects controversy, has been accused of inserting anomalous infrastructure projects. He is a former chair of the House appropriations panel, an influential position since the committee works on the bill that will become the national budget.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DEPORTATION</strong><strong> </strong></div><p>Co has been facing a warrant for his arrest over the construction of an anomalous flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.</p><p>He is reportedly in Portugal.</p><p>Remulla said Co could have obtained Portuguese citizenship through the country’s Golden Visa program, which allows foreign nationals to acquire residency and eventually citizenship through substantial investments.</p><p>“Mag-invest ka ng so many hundred thousands of dollars, bumili ka ng bahay. After so many years, bibigyan ka ng passport. Una visa, tapos passport,” Remulla said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/13/philippines-to-request-zaldy-co-repatriation-from-portugal-dilg-1151">Philippines seeks Interpol aid to repatriate Zaldy Co from Portugal</a></div><p>He added that under Portuguese law, deportation could still be possible if the alleged crimes were committed before the issuance of the passport.</p><p>“Kung nasa kanya na ‘yung passport, then he committed the crime, then he has to be tried there,” he said.</p><p>“Criminal mind talaga, may escape route kaagad. Galing na ‘yung escape route ko. Maaga pa lang, mag-one year na siya abroad,” he added.</p><p>Remulla said that the Philippines lacked an extradition treaty with Portugal, making the process more complicated.</p><p>Despite the challenges, Remulla said the government was exploring other legal options to bring Co back to the country, noting discussions with Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.</p><p>“Nag-usap kami ni Sen. Ping, may ibang paraan naman para magawa ‘yun,” he said.</p><p>“A treaty, dadaan sa Senado nila, sa Senado natin, Congress natin, Congress nila. It takes at least three years to formalize an extradition treaty. Hindi madali ‘yan, too long,” he said, when asked about the possibility of entering into an extradition treaty.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/15/marcos-jr-wants-coordination-with-portugal-for-zaldy-co-s-return-not-extradition-palace-1520">Marcos Jr. wants coordination with Portugal for Zaldy Co’s return, not extradition–Palace</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/19/senate-issues-show-cause-vs-zaldy-co-aide-for-failing-to-attend-hearing-1339">Senate issues show-cause order vs Zaldy Co, Orly Guteza for failing to attend hearing</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>DOJ SAYS NO INFO</strong><strong> </strong></div><p>The Department of Justice (DOJ) said it had no information on the reported “feelers” sent by Co. </p><p>“DOJ is a big department. But to the extent of my knowledge, I cannot comment on things I do not know and I don’t want to,” Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said. </p><p>Asked if the reported feelers would have any impact on Co’s case, the justice official answered in the negative. </p><p>“Ang pagbabasehan ng ating mga piskal, ng mga prosecutors, ang page-evaluate ng iba’t ibang pira-pirasong ebidensya ay kung ano ang sinu-submit sa kanya,” he told reporters. </p><p>Meanwhile, Vida said three plunder cases involving three high-profile individuals were already “moving.”</p><p>He said they were only waiting for the issuance of subpoenas to the officials involved. </p><p>On Wednesday, DOJ Spokesperson Polo Martinez said Co, former senator Bong Revilla, and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada were involved in these plunder cases. </p><p>“Pag nagsimula na ang proseso ng PI (preliminary investigation), it is the right ng mga respondents to be apprised ng mga complaint sa kanila. Puwede na kasi nila pag-aralan. Kasama yun sa proseso, at binibigyan na rin sila ng pagkakataon na makasagot,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS: </strong></div><div><em></em><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/U34uOesqa3g?&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/CTz8aDj5HNQ?&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/oPrrneqgCh0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Former congressman Zaldy Co has reportedly sent "feelers" through intermediaries with the intention to get in touch with Philippine authorities, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Wednesday.</p>

Former congressman Zaldy Co has reportedly sent "feelers" through intermediaries with the intention to get in touch with Philippine authorities, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Wednesday.

Zaldy Co sent 'feelers' seeking 'dialogue' with PH authorities: DILG chief

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Zaldy Co sent 'feelers' seeking 'dialogue' with PH authorities: DILG chief

Karen De Guzman,

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 21, 2026 12:45 PM PHT

|

Updated January 22, 2026 01:39 AM PHT

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Zaldy Co

DILG

flood control

Jonvic Remulla

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