After Co’s passport canceled, Marcos orders DFA, PNP: Track down Zaldy

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (PNP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to coordinate with Philippine embassies and posts around the world to track down resigned lawmaker Zaldy Co after his Philippine passport was canceled.

“Ininstructionan ko na ang Department of Foreign Affairs, pati ang PNP, na makipag-ugnayan sa ating mga embassies, sa iba’t ibang bansa, para tiyakin na hindi maaaring magtago itong ating hinahabol na magtago doon sa kanilang bansa,” said Marcos in a taped video message released early Wednesday afternoon, December 10.

(I have instructed the DFA and the PNP to coordinate with our embassies around the world to make sure that this person we are pursuing is not able to hide in a foreign country.)

“At kung sakali man ay siya ay pupunta roon, ay i-rereport sa atin para naman maibalik natin siya dito sa Pilipinas,” added Marcos.

(If Co is in other countries, then this should be reported to us so that we can bring him home to the Philippines.)

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Co, formerly Ako Bicol representative, has been out of the country ever since the 20th Congress opened in late July 2025. His absence has meant that he has been out of the Philippines for the bulk of the flood control corruption mess he’s at the center of.

In late November 2025, anti-graft court Sandiganbayan issued arrest warrants against Co and several others over an anomalous flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. – Rappler.com