President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has given orders to initiate formal extradition proceedings with Portugal to repatriate resigned congressman Zaldy Co.
An extradition treaty is a formal agreement between countries to return individuals accused of crimes to their home country for trial.
At a press briefing on Tuesday, January 13, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla reiterated earlier claims by local authorities that Zaldy Co holds a Portuguese passport.
“Nagbigay na ng instructions ang president na formally mag apply na kami ng extradition treaty sa kanila kahiit wala pang formal extradition treaty between the two countries. But through Interpol, mag request na kami ng repatriation ni Zaldy Co kung nasa Portugal talaga siya,”
Co, who has been treated as one of the masterminds in a massive corruption scheme at the Department of Public Works and Highways, was last reported in Portugal.
Zaldy Co had already left the country before the flood control scandal drew national attention. Investigations suspect that billions of pesos were diverted through anomalous flood control projects and other infrastructure works, with politicians, officials, and engineers of Department of Public Works and Highways, and private contractors allegedly receiving large sums of money.