The Philippines' Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, Jesus Remulla, is traveling to France to pursue an Interpol red notice against former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Zaldy Co, according to The Manila Times.
Remulla will file a fresh request for the international arrest alert while in France, as reported by the Philippine News Agency. The move follows earlier attempts to secure the notice, which would require Co's arrest and extradition should he travel to any of Interpol's member countries.
The Manila Times reports that Remulla's trip is part of a broader effort to coordinate with French authorities on the case. SunStar Publishing adds that Remulla and his brother, who also holds a government position, plan to discuss both Co and a separate matter involving another individual named Legarda during their meetings in France.
The request marks a renewed push by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to have Co face legal proceedings. Co, a former governor of the now-defunct ARMM, has been the subject of ongoing legal scrutiny, though the specific charges tied to this red notice request were not detailed in the available reporting.
The DILG chief's visit underscores the administration's determination to use international legal mechanisms to bring Co to justice. The outcome of the discussions with French authorities will determine whether Interpol issues the red notice, which would significantly narrow Co's ability to move freely across borders.
Observers will watch whether this second attempt succeeds where the first fell short, as the Remulla brothers' direct engagement with French officials signals a high-level diplomatic push on the matter.
