Ombudsman set to ask Interpol to arrest Zaldy Co

The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) will ask the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) for a red notice to locate and arrest former congressman Zaldy Co who was charged criminally before the Sandiganbayan in the P289.5-million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

- By CZARINA NICOLE ONG KI

Co left the Philippines last July allegedly for a medical checkup and has not returned since then.

An Interpol’s red notice is a request to international law enforcement to locate and arrest a wanted person and his or her turnover to the requesting government.

Co, the directors of his Sunwest Corporation, and several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Region IV-B (DPWH-IV-B) have been criminally charged before the Sandiganbayan with graft and malversation of public funds.

No bail was recommended in the cases filed by the OMB on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

During an interview with DZMM’s “Gising Pilipinas,” Assistant Ombudsman Jose Dominic “Mico” F. Clavano said they have requested the anti-graft court to immediately raffle off the three cases.

After the anti-graft court had raffled off the three cases, Clavano said that the court could already issue a warrant of arrest which would be used to apply for Interpol's red notice.

The first case, docketed as SB25CRM0039, for violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act No 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, will be handled by the anti-graft court's fifth division composed of Associate Justices Zaldy V. Trespeses, Maryann E. Corpus-Manalac and Gener M. Gito.

The second graft case, docketed as SB25CRM0040 and with Co as the only accused, for violation of Section 3(h) of RA 3019. It was raffled to the court's seventh division composed of Associate Justices Lorifel Lacap Pahimna and Georgina D. Hidalgo The third case, docketed as SB25CRM0041, for violation of Article.