Former House appropriations chair and resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co has reportedly attempted to open communication with the government through intermediaries, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters at Camp Crame, Remulla clarified that the overtures were not directed to him personally but were instead coursed to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla. The messages were reportedly conveyed by individuals known to Co, including religious figures familiar with him, expressing his interest in initiating dialogue with authorities.
Remulla emphasized that the information remains unverified and was received informally, through secondhand sources, and has not been formally confirmed.
The former lawmaker, who recently resigned from Congress, was earlier reported to be in Portugal, which Remulla cited as Co’s last known location.
Co is currently facing graft and malversation charges before the Sandiganbayan related to an allegedly anomalous P96.5-million road dike project in Oriental Mindoro.