INTERIOR Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday said he is set to leave for France in the next 10 days to get fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co who is a central figure in the flood control bribery scandal.
Remula confirmed that based on the latest information, Co is still in France seeking asylum.
“My job there is to convince our counterparts that after stealing $1 billion from a very poor country... he does not deserve asylum and needs to be brought back to the Philippines,” Remulla told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Crame.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, his brother, is also set to fly to the country to facilitate the return not only of Co but also of Sen. Loren Legarda, who is also believed to be in France.
In a radio interview, the Ombudsman clarified that there is no assurance yet if he could fly them back to Manila as his purpose is to “lay the groundwork” of the processes in compliance with European Union rules first.
Although they have similar goals, the Ombudsman said they will not be joining each other and that they are conferring with different entities.
Co faces arrest in two separate cases in connection with P7.44 billion worth of alleged kickbacks in various government projects from 2022 to 2025, as well as an allegedly anomalous P289-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.
Co is also the subject of an International Criminal Police Organization Red Notice.
