By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
NEW YORK CITY – The Philippine government is coordinating with Portuguese authorities to facilitate the possible return of former lawmaker Zaldy Co to the Philippines, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Tuesday (New York time).
Speaking to reporters here at The Pierre A Taj Jotel before returning to Manila, Marcos said the process for Co’s return requires cooperation from the country where he is currently located.
Marcos said Philippine authorities cannot directly enforce arrests outside their jurisdiction.
“You cannot bring him home because that is not the way it works. We have to ask the assistance of the country where he is in, which is presently Portugal. So, that’s what we have done,” he said.
Marcos emphasized that Philippine law enforcement cannot simply send personnel abroad to apprehend a person.
He said the government has already filed a request for a Red Notice from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to trace Co’s movement.
A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. It is based on an arrest warrant or court order issued by the judicial authorities in the requesting country.
“That’s the process. You do not send your own police to go and pick him up kasi wala namang jurisdiction ang pulis doon sa ibang bansa (because our police officers have no jurisdiction over other countries),” he said, when asked for an update on Co.
“So, they cannot arrest anyone. So, it will have to be the assistance of the hosting country,” he added.
Co, one of the key figures allegedly involved in anomalous flood control projects, is believed to be hiding in Portugal.
His Philippine passport was cancelled, but he was reported to have acquired a Portuguese passport years ago, which may facilitate his stay in Portugal. (PNA)
