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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Zaldy Co hiding in a gated community in Portugal, Remulla says

Zaldy Co hiding in a gated community in Portugal, Remulla says

Published Jan 22, 2026 02:10 pm
Former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co (Facebook)
Former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co (Facebook)
 
Former Ako Bicol partylist representative Zaldy Co has been staying in a gated community in Lisbon, Portugal, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla disclosed on Thursday, Jan. 22.
Citing intelligence reports, Remulla said Co is rarely seen going out of a Forbes-like gated community in Portugal.
“He is in Portugal. We’re pretty certain that he is in Lisbon. A gated community. He rarely goes out of his residence),’’ Remulla said.
The information, he said, came from operatives closely surveying and monitoring Co’s movement.
Remulla said the national government is having difficulty bringing Co to the country since there is no existing extradition treaty between the Philippines and Portugal.
Co, he said, was able to secure a passport from Portugal through a golden passport policy.
“Portugal has a golden passport program that is given if you would invest there,” said Remulla.
“Portugal and the Philippines have no extradition treaty. The law in Portugal is that if the offense was committed before the granting of the passport, they could send the person back,” he added.
But based on the information they received, Co has been a Portugal passport holder for 10 years now.
In November 2025, arrest warrants were issued against Co and others including Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials and Sunwest Corp. directors over anomalous flood control projects.
Earlier, the Office of the Ombudsman filed with the Sandiganbayan corruption and malversation of public funds charges against Co and others in connection with the P289 million project in Oriental Mindoro.
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