Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla revealed on Tuesday that he will travel abroad within the next 10 days to personally petition French authorities to reject the political asylum request of former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co.
Speaking to reporters during a press conference at Camp Crame, Remulla stated that his schedule will be announced once meeting details with French counterparts are finalized.
Recent intelligence places Co in France, where he submitted an application for political asylum several months ago. The former lawmaker currently faces arrest warrants issued by the Sandiganbayan in connection with pending graft, plunder and malversation cases.
“He is seeking asylum and my job there is to convince our counterparts that after stealing $1 billion from a very poor country like the Philippines, he does not deserve asylum,” Remulla said, stressing that Co “needs to be brought back to the Philippines.”
While in France, the Interior Chief also plans to visit the Interpol General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon to check on the progress of the Philippines’ request for an Interpol Red Notice against the fugitive ex-legislator.
Addressing potential hurdles in securing the notice, Remulla explained that his visit aims to determine the specific obstacles delaying the process. He noted his understanding that a published Red Notice could allow authorities to apprehend Co regardless of any ongoing asylum proceedings, though he intends to verify the exact legal mechanisms while abroad.
“That’s what I understand, but I will clarify it further. But we will do our best to bring him home as soon as possible,” Remulla remarked.
In the same briefing, Remulla shared an update regarding former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who is currently in Austria attempting to secure political asylum while facing a warrant of arrest for qualified human trafficking.
Remulla initially indicated that Roque’s application had been rejected following the standard five-month review period. However, he subsequently clarified that he would verify the exact status of the ruling, noting that the case was being handled by separate officials.