DILG issues ultimatum to Zaldy, co-accused

Resigned Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co and 17 others ordered arrested by the Sandiganbayan have until tomorrow to surrender or face the full force of the law, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Friday.

- By EMMANUEL TUPAS and EJ MACABABBAD

Remulla issued the warning as police officers have started searching for Co and his other co-accused who were ordered arrested by the anti-graft court in connection with an anomalous flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

“We're giving you until Monday to surrender to the nearest government agencies,” Remulla said in an interview in Filipino over dzMM Friday night.

Should Co and the others ignore his warning, Remulla said they would be considered fugitives from justice, with the department using all its instruments and power to have them under government custody.

"All bets are off, if they show even the slightest aggressive maneuvers or evasive maneuvers, baka magpasensyahan kami (they might really be sorry),” he said.

As head of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Remulla has supervision over the 230,000-strong Philippine National Police.

Police officers yesterday went to one of Co's properties, a condominium unit in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, but the former lawmaker was nowhere to be found.

Operatives of the Quezon City Police District, meanwhile, went to the residence of one of the accused - Department of Public Works and Highways accountant Lerma Cayco-in Barangay South Triangle in Quezon City but she was nowhere in sight.

Remulla did not reply when asked by The STAR if any of Co's co-accused were already under custody.

Hiding in China?

Based on intelligence reports, Remulla said Co was in Japan last Monday but already left the country on Thursday for China. From China, Co went back to Europe, the DILG chief said.