MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government is confident thatfugitive lawmaker Zaldy Co, one of the central figures in the multibillion-peso flood control scandal, will be brought home, Malacañang said Thursday.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro issued the statement after Justice Secretary Frederick Vida confirmed that he and Chief State Counsel Dennis Chan would fly to Prague on Thursday to discuss with Czech authorities the possible return of Co.
"On the part of the Philippines, we are definitely confident. Since other countries are involved, let us just hope that Zaldy Co will be brought back to our country soon," Castro said during a press conference.
The Department of Justice said it was considering deportation, extradition or invoking the United Nations Convention Against Corruption – to which both the Philippines and the Czech Republic are signatories – as possible means to facilitate Co's return.
Co is facing an arrest warrant for alleged malversation of public funds and graft in connection with a P289.5-million anomalous road dike project in Oriental Mindoro.
