Zaldy Co sent 'surrender feelers' through priests — DILG chief

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January 21, 2026 | 2:32pm

MANILA, Philippines — Fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co has sent "surrender feelers" to the government, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said.

In an interview with reporters on Wednesday, January 21, Remulla said Co expressed his intent to surrender through Catholic priest "friends," who relayed his feelers to the Office of the Ombudsman.

"He sent feelers through some of the priests he knew. They asked to connect with us to have a dialogue… Not through me, through the Ombudsman," Remulla said in an interview with reporters.

"Of course, that's not verified. They've just reached out. A friend of a friend reached out," he added.

Remulla also said Co’s last known location was Portugal. He explained that Co acquired his passport through Portugal's "golden visa program."

Co and several others are facing malversation and alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act over an alleged ghost flood control project involving the construction of a road dike along the Mag-Asawang Tubig River in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, with a budget of P289.5 million.

Nine of Co’s co-accused have already been arrested and detained in different penal facilities in Metro Manila.