November 19, 2025 | 12:21pm
MANILA, Philippines — A request for an Interpol Red Notice and cancellation of the passport can be sought by the government once a warrant of arrest has been issued against former lawmaker Zaldy Co, the Office of the Ombudsman said.
In an interview with DZMM Teleradyo on Wednesday, November 19, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said that the cancellation of Co’s passport or the request for a red notice are the potential actions the government may pursue once the Sandiganbayan issues a warrant against the former lawmaker.
“Nasama na po doon sa mga requests po natin. Sana ‘yung isang request po natin sana maraffle agad para mas mapadali po ‘yung pagissue ng warrant of arrest tapos ‘pag nalabas na ‘yung warrant of arrest, pwede natin gamitin ‘yun sa pagapply sa Interpol for Red Notice,” he said in a Teleradyo interview.
(That has already been included in our requests. We hope that our other request—to immediately raffle the case—will be granted so that the issuance of the warrant of arrest can be expedited. Then, once the warrant of arrest is released, we can use that to apply to Interpol for a Red Notice.)
Clavano explained that if his Co’s passport was canceled, it would restrict his movements and ability to travel from one country to another.
Additionally, the Ombudsman’s office could request an Interpol Red Notice, which would allow authorities to actively search for Co globally.
An Interpol red notice is a request to law enforcement agencies in Interpol-member countries to locate and arrest a person pending extradition, surrender or similar legal action. It is not, however, an international arrest warrant.
However, Clavano said that the timeline of the issuance of the warrant will be in the hands of the Sandiganbayan.
On November 19, the Ombudsman filed complaints of malversation and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against Co and several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways over alleged irregularities in the flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro.
Among the respondents to the complaint are the Board of Directors of Sunwest Corp., a construction company owned by Co.
