The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has asked the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to issue a red notice against resigned congressman Zaldy Co who has been declared a fugitive from justice by the Sandiganbayan.
The NBI’s request was confirmed by the bureau’s Spokesperson Palmer Mallari on Friday, Dec. 12.
Mallari said that the bureau has requested Interpol for a red notice since last Nov. 23, two days after the Sandiganbayan ordered the arrest of Co and his co-accused in the three criminal cases involving the P289.5 million “anomalous” flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
As of posting time, the Department of Justice (DOJ) could not confirm if a red notice has been issued by the Interpol.
Interpol’s website states that a red notice “is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.”
Last Dec. 10, the Sandiganbayan ordered the cancellation of Co’s passport and declared him a fugitive from justice.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was reported to have implemented the anti-graft’s order.
Three cases -- one of them a non-bailable malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents – were filed against Co and his co-accused.
The first case, docketed as SB-25-CRM-0039, charged Co and his co-accused for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act (RA) No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Co’s co-accused in the graft case were Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region IV-B Regional Director Gerald A. Pacanan III, Assistant Regional Director Gene Ryan A. Altea, Assistant Regional Director Ruben C. Santos Jr., Project Engineer III Felisardo S. Casuno, Materials Engineer Timojen A. Sacar, and Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division OIC-Chief, Accountant IV Lerma D. Cayco, Planning and Design Division OIC-Chief Montrexis T. Tamayo, Maintenance Division Chief Juliet C. Calvo, and the members of the board of Sunwest Corporation.
Only Co was charged in the second graft case docketed as SB-CRM-0040.
In the third case on malversation of public funds, Co and all those charged in the first graft case were named as accused.
Some of the accused who are now in custody have pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
While one division of the Sandiganbayan earlier ruled on the consolidation of the three cases, another division of the anti-graft court objected and preferred separate trials to expedite the proceedings.