PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government is working with Portuguese authorities to facilitate the return of former lawmaker and fugitive Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co to the Philippines.
In a media interview in New York on Tuesday, Marcos said the Philippine government has filed a request for a Red Notice from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to trace Co’s movements.
“You cannot bring him home because that is not the way it works. We have to ask the assistance of the country where he is in, which is presently Portugal. So, that’s what we have done,” Marcos told reporters before returning to Manila.
The president said the Philippine National Police has no jurisdiction over Portugal, but said the host country should assist Philippine authorities in locating Co.
“We already requested a Red Notice before the Interpol and we continue to coordinate with Portuguese authorities so he can be brought home,” Marcos said.
“That’s the process. You do not send your own police to go and pick him up because our police officers have no jurisdiction over other countries. So, they cannot arrest anyone,” he added.
A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender or similar legal action.
It is based on an arrest warrant or court order issued by the judicial authorities in the requesting country.
In November 2025, arrest warrants were issued against Co and others, including officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways, and directors of Sunwest Corp., over alleged anomalous flood control projects.
The Ombudsman earlier filed corruption and malversation of public funds charges against Co and others with the Sandiganbayan in connection with the alleged anomalous P289-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.
Co, formerly the House appropriations committee chairman, has denied the allegations but fled the country in August 2025, and has since accused the president and his cousin, former speaker Martin Romualdez, of accepting billions in bribes.
No record of flight to Ilocos
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Wednesday it has found no evidence that one of Co’s former bodyguards, an ex-Marine, had delivered money to the president’s residence in Ilocos Norte.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag said on Wednesday the agency subpoenaed an air taxi company to inspect its flight logs after claims that Sgt. Belnard Tubid and Co traveled to Ilocos Norte in 2025 to deliver bribes to the presidential household.
“Neither Zaldy Co nor Sergeant Tubid appears in the air taxi’s flight logs. It is clear that Sergeant Tubid’s statement about delivering money to President Marcos’ residence is false,” Matibag said.
He added that the air taxi company confirmed that even with court resolutions and notarized documents covering 2023 to 2025, no flights were recorded for the individuals on any chartered aircraft.
Drawing from his experience as former general manager of Manila International Airport, Matibag emphasized the reliability of flight records.
“Whether it’s a helicopter or a private plane, all passenger names are strictly recorded. These records cannot disappear,” he said, noting that the NBI review casts serious doubt on the allegations.
In a parallel development, the NBI subpoenaed Bishop Efraim Tendero, ambassador for the World Evangelical Alliance, in connection with his role as a witness in an affidavit submitted by the alleged ex-Marines. The affidavit, notarized by lawyer Charlie Pascual, is reportedly connected to the law firm of Levi Baligod.
“Pastor Tendero is also considered a person of interest. We issued a subpoena for him, and he appeared before us, providing photographs and video recordings related to the notarization at the office,” Matibag said. He added that the NBI is verifying whether the notarization was indeed conducted in Las Piñas, as claimed, given that Baligod’s office is in Makati and the press conference linked to the affidavit took place in San Juan.
Matibag noted that while joint affidavits are common legal instruments, the document in question contains serious allegations affecting multiple individuals and matters of national interest. The investigation has also uncovered connections between Pascual and Baligod, including social media interactions tied to former representative Mike Defensor.
“These networks and relationships are important in our investigation,” Matibag said, emphasizing that the NBI’s primary focus remains on the verification of facts and witness statements.
103 bodyguards
Matibag also said a retired general recruited 103 individuals, including 18 alleged former Marines, who served as security aides of Co.
“There are 103 bodyguards assigned to Zaldy Co. There is a retired general who recruited them, and we have already identified him,” Matibag said.
Matibag said lawyer Levi Baligod, counsel of the 18 alleged former Marines, confirmed that the men were assigned as bodyguards to Co and were initially hired for a two-year period. Their employment, however, ended abruptly after Co went missing.
As a result, the security personnel — including those claiming to be former Marines — were left without work or pay.
“These bodyguards, including the retired Marines, no longer received their salaries and lost their jobs,” Matibag said.
The NBI chief added that investigators are examining whether the group’s financial difficulties may have influenced their decision to execute sworn statements.
“One angle we are looking at is that these people no longer have a livelihood. They may have agreed to execute statements because they need compensation,” Matibag said.
Authorities are also ensuring that those who executed affidavits were not subjected to threats or intimidation in providing their testimonies.
The NBI said its investigation into the matter is ongoing.
