By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – Malacañang on Friday said the Department of Justice will ask the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to issue a “blue notice” against Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, who left the country amid investigations into anomalous flood control projects.
“Latest from DOJ [is that] they will request for blue notice,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro told Palace reporters in a text message.
Co is currently under scrutiny over allegations of receiving kickbacks from questionable flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Co, former chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, which oversees the national budget, left the country after being implicated in the multibillion-peso flood control scandal.
Castro said Co’s whereabouts are being monitored after the DOJ issued an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order.
She said the request for a blue notice from Interpol aims to track Co’s movements and determine his location.
“Namo-monitor po kung saan siya pumupunta (His whereabouts are being monitored),” Castro said in a Palace press briefing. (Maaari din pong maghiling ang DOJ ng blue notice dahil nagsisimula na silang mag-imbestiga (The DOJ may also request a blue notice as their investigation begins).”
Co flew to the United States last month for medical treatment.
On Sept. 18, House Speaker Faustino Dy III formally revoked Co’s travel clearance and ordered him to return to the Philippines within 10 days.
According to reports, Co reportedly entered Singapore on Sept. 16 and departed on Sept. 24 for Madrid, Spain. (PNA)
