Remulla to block Zaldy’s asylum bid in France

MANILA, Philippines - Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla will block former lawmaker Zaldy Co's asylum bid in his upcoming visit to France.

"My job there is to convince our counterparts that after stealing $1 billion from a very poor country like the Philippines, he does not deserve asylum and he needs to be brought back to the Philippines," Remulla said yesterday.

Remulla will meet with the International Criminal Police Organization in Lyon to follow through on the government's request for an Interpol red notice alert.

He is expected to fly to France in the next 10 days.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla will also go to France, but the interior chief said they have different missions.

Co and former House speaker Martin Romualdez's co-accused in a P7.4-billion plunder case, Joselyn Sereno and Felicito Guevarra, are still in the Philippines and remain at large, Remulla said.