Jonvic says sorry after failing to bring back Zaldy Co within 3-week timeline
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic’’ Remulla apologized for failing to bring back fugitive ex-Ako Bicol partylist representative Zaldy Co to the country from the Czech Republic after setting a three-week timeline.
In taking full responsibility for his miscue, Remulla admitted to be at fault in presuming that the deportation process in the Czech Republic is similar to the Philippines.
Earlier, acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said that Co was no longer in the custody of Czech Republic authorities.
However, Vida has no information on Co’s exact whereabouts in the Czech Republic since this information was not relayed to them.
The Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) said the requirements International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) needs for a red notice against the ex-lawmaker have been submitted to authorities.
During the DOJ briefing in Prague, Czech Republic, PCTC executive director Romeo Prestoza remains hopeful that the “voluminous documents’’ submitted to the Interpol secretariat can eventually grant the issuance of a red notice.
The interpol explained that a red notice is a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person who is wanted by a requesting member country or an international tribunal pending extradition, surrender or similar legal action. (Chito Chavez)