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Mark Ernest Villeza - The Philippine Star
February 13, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — In its bid to locate former Ako Bicol party-list congressman Zaldy Co, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has submitted supplemental documents required by Interpol for the Philippines’ request to issue a red notice against him.
NBI spokesman Palmer Mallari said the documents were filed on Feb. 11 ahead of Interpol’s deadline and were sourced from the Department of Justice, Office of the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan.
Mallari clarified that the submission is part of standard procedure and does not indicate any deficiency in earlier filings or judgment on the case.
He added that the NBI’s International Operations Division continues coordinating with foreign law enforcement agencies to track Co’s whereabouts.
A red notice is an international alert requesting member countries to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition. It is not an arrest warrant but signals an existing court case or warrant in the requesting state.
Mallari expressed optimism that Interpol will approve the request, noting strengthened coordination with European law enforcement partners as the manhunt for Co continues.
Zaldy declared ‘fugitive from justice’ anew
Another division of the Sandiganbayan has declared Co a fugitive from justice and he cannot participate in any court proceedings and seek judicial relief until his voluntary surrender.
In a 16-page resolution, the Sandiganbayan’s Sixth Division granted the motion of ombudsman prosecutors seeking Co, who has been abroad since July 2025, to be declared as a fugitive from justice.
The anti-graft court cited Co’s continued absence and his failure, if not refusal, to surrender or disclose his whereabouts despite knowledge of the present case against him as a clear indication of “his desire and intent to evade law enforcement and judicial processes.”
The resolution was written by Sixth Division chairperson Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez with the concurrence of Associate Justices Kevin Narce Vivero and Lord Villanueva.
Revilla fears being lone defendant
The camp of former senator Bong Revilla fears he might be left as the only defendant in a plunder case in relation to the anomalous flood control projects, with his three co-accused who worked for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) turned into state witness.
Lawyer Francesca Señga, spokesperson for the Revilla camp, said ex-DPWH officials Roberto Bernardo, Henry Alcantara and Gerard Opulencia – who were all co-respondents of the former senator – “manifested they would not answer because they have been discharged to the witness protection program.”
“What is surprising is that during the filing of counter-affidavit, we were surprised that the three – Alcantara, Opulencia and (undersecretary) Bernardo – manifested that they will not answer anymore because they were discharged at the witness protection program. So it is surprising that out of four respondents, three are under witness protection, only one will remain,” she said after the preliminary investigation held at the Department of Justice in Manila yesterday.
She noted that Bernardo was “discharged” as a state witness last November, and Alcantara in December.
Asked if conspiracy to commit plunder would still be proven with Bernardo, Opulencia and Alcantara discharged as state witnesses, she asked, “How can it be a conspiracy if there is only one?”
She said Revilla has until Feb. 20 to review the submitted proofs that Bernardo, Opulencia and Alcantara have indeed been made state witnesses, as well as what she called “late” submissions by the NBI proving Revilla’s role in the flood control mess.
Minority bloc won’t sign Blue Ribbon flood control report
The nine-member minority bloc will not sign the Senate Blue Ribbon committee report on its flood control corruption probe, which is being routed among the members for their signatures, according to Sen. Robin Padilla.
Padilla said this is because the minority has its own report, which seeks to tag former speaker Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Co as the alleged masterminds.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said the report was still routed to the minority bloc despite their unwillingness to sign.
The minority is led by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, with Padilla, Rodante Marcoleta, Imee Marcos, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Go, Ronald dela Rosa, Joel Villanueva and Francis Escudero.
Lacson expressed confidence in getting 11 signatures among the 20 members of the Blue Ribbon, including the three ex-officio members, for the report to be brought to plenary.
He earlier confirmed that the report will call for a preliminary investigation for the filing of corruption charges against minority senators Escudero, Estrada and Villanueva; former senator Ramon Revilla Jr., who is already detained for malversation; fugitive lawmaker Co; former Caloocan congresswoman Mitch Cajayon-Uy, and former Cabinet officials behind the flood control budget insertions. – Daphne Galvez, Ghio Ong, Marc Jayson Cayabyab
