Philippines to coordinate with Portugal in finding Zaldy

MANILA, Philippines, December 12 ------ The Philippine government is ready to communicate with Portugal or any country to track down resigned lawmaker and fugitive Zaldy Co, one of the politicians tied to the multibillion-peso flood control mess.

Co, who is facing an arrest warrant in relation to an allegedly anomalous road dike project in Oriental Mindoro, left the Philippines days before President Marcos ordered a probe into subpar and ghost flood control structures last July. The former Ako Bicol party-list representative’s Philippine passport has been canceled. However, he is said to be a holder of a Portuguese passport. “If he has a passport, we can coordinate with that (issuing) country,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said yesterday over dzBB.

Late last month, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Co, who has been charged with graft and malversation of public funds, was last seen in Japan. Castro said the former lawmaker would be recognizable if the International Criminal Police Organization or Interpol issues a red notice. “If he uses (his foreign-issued passport), maybe there is Interpol in the country he will visit,” the Palace press officer said.

The Philippine National Police has expressed readiness to support the giving of reward for information that would lead to Co’s arrest. Remulla has urged Filipinos overseas to take photos of the resigned legislator and upload them online should they chance upon him so law enforcers would have an idea of his whereabouts.

The Sandiganbayan has declared Co as a fugitive from justice and ordered the cancellation of his Philippine passport. In a Dec. 10 resolution, the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division said that ombudsman prosecutors were able to establish a pattern of non-compliance and avoidance “that demonstrates an intent to evade prosecution.” It noted Co continues to be at large despite knowing that complaints have been filed against him and arrest warrants had already been issued.

The Sandiganbayan also noted how Co, in the statements of his counsel, confirmed he is staying abroad and will only return if he is granted house arrest or bail. “It is the court’s view that the deliberate refusal to submit to the lawful authority of the court, unless his demands are met, confirms his clear intent to remain outside the jurisdiction of the court,” the resolution read.

The anti-graft court also emphasized that Co left the country when investigations into alleged corruption in flood control projects were ongoing and formal charges against him were imminent. “His strategically timed flight, therefore, provides sufficient ground for the reasonable interference that his action constituted a deliberate attempt to flee from justice,” it said. These circumstances, the court said, warrant the cancellation of Co’s passport, saying this measure is both appropriate and necessary to facilitate the enforcement of the arrest warrant and mandate Co’s surrender to the jurisdiction of the court.

In a separate resolution, the Sandiganbayan also ordered the cancellation of passports of Aderma Angelie Alcazar, Cesar Buenaventura and Noel Cao, the directors of Sunwest Inc. which is the contractor of P289-million substandard road dike project in Oriental Mindoro, for the same reason that they intend to evade criminal charges against them. “Given the facts presented, the accused’s actions of remaining-at-large strongly suggest that they are actively avoiding the court’s jurisdiction to prevent arrest and prosecution,” it said.

The anti-graft court also declared Alcazar, Buenaventura and Cao as fugitives from justice. The anti-graft court’s Fifth Division has likewise denied the consolidation of the graft and non-bailable malversation of public funds cases filed against Co and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Oriental Mindoro. The graft case is with the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division, while the malversation cases are with the Sixth Division.

Source: philstar.com