MANILA — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) stressed on Friday that authorities will eventually detain former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, whose Philippine passport was recently revoked after criminal complaints were filed against him, despite potential extradition complications.

According to Donnie Puno, DILG Undersecretary for Public Affairs and Communications, the organization has started working with the Portuguese authorities to confirm claims that Co. possesses a Portuguese passport.

“There will always be ways. Sabi nga ni Sec [Jonvic Remulla], whatever those complications are, extradition complications, we’ll face those. But in the end, he’s confident, mahuhuli din natin,” Puno remarked.

The cancellation of Co’s Philippine passport, he continued, greatly restricts his ability to go overseas.


“That makes his world a little smaller. His movements are going to be a little tougher while he’s overseas. So we will eliminate all of these challenges one by one.“

The DILG renewed its call that anyone with an arrest warrant turn themselves in to the police, citing the voluntary surrender of government contractor Sarah Discaya to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as an example.

“Mas mabuti na mag-surrender na kayo. I think that will make it easier for you and for everybody concerned,” Puno said.

THERE ARE NO THREATS AFTER DISCAYA SURRENDER

In the meantime, Puno reassured the public that Discaya’s voluntary surrender to the NBI poses no security dangers.

“Si Secretary Remulia, he’s been in close coordination with Secretary of Justice Vida about all of these arrests. They’ve made clear that the legal procedures will be followed,” Puno clarified.

“There’s no worry about any security risks. Sabi nga ni Secretary, maganda nga na nag-surrender na si Sarah Discaya. That helps a lot,” he continued.

Puno responded that the issue will be left to the courts when asked about potential jail facilities for the contractor.

DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla responded to allegations that Discaya’s surrender is a component of a legal strategy in a different statement.

“Sa mata ng publiko, tapos na ‘to. Pero pagalingan na lang ng abogado ‘to eh. The Ombudsman is confident, the DOJ is very confident. Sila, may pera sila pambayad ng abugado. So titignan natin ang paligsahan dito sa korte,” Remulla said.

Remulla reminded that cooperating with authorities is always preferable to avoiding the law and urged others with ongoing issues to do the same.

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