MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is still awaiting a court order and has not received any instructions to cancel the passport of former AKO Bicol Partylist Representative Elizalde "Zaldy" Co, who remains at large after being involved in the controversial ghost flood control projects.

In a message to the media on Monday, DFA Spokesperson Angelica Escalona confirmed that they have "not received a court order instructing the DFA to cancel his (Co's) passport."

Earlier, the DFA said that it can cancel Philippine passports issued to Filipino citizens "upon receipt of a court order issued by a competent Philippine court, instructing the DFA to cancel a Philippine passport."

This is pursuant to Sections 4 and 10 of RA 11983 or the New Philippine Passport Act, the DFA stated.

Meanwhile, eight out of the 16 accused in the flood control anomalies are in the custody of the Philippine government, according to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

In a press conference on Monday, Remulla confirmed that seven of the suspects are now being held by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), while one was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Those arrested include Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)–Mimaropa chief Gerald Pacanan, along with regional officials Gene Ryan Altea, Ruben Santos, Dominic Serrano, Felisardo Casino, Juliet Calvo, Dennis Abagon, and Lerma Cayco.

In the same press conference, Remulla released photos of the 16 DPWH and Sunwest officials allegedly involved in allegations of corruption in relation to the controversial flood control projects.

The 16 accused individuals are as follows:

Elizaldy “Zaldy” S. Co

Gerald A. Pacanan

Gene Ryan A. Altea

Ruben C. Santos, Jr.

Dominic G. Serrano

Juliet C. Calvo

Dennis P. Abagon

Montrexis T. Tamayo

Lerna D. Coyco

Felisardo S. Casuno

Timojen A. Sacar

Aderma Angelie D. Alcazar

Cesar X. Buenaventura

Consuelo D. Aldon

Engr. Noel Y. Cao

Anthony L. Ngo

Remulla also mentioned that Co may have "used another passport," though he did not mention if the former lawmaker used another passport with a "different name."

Reports said that Co was last seen in Japan as of November 21, while Bureau of Immigration (BI) reports showed that he departed the country for Singapore on August 6.

Meanwhile, Co's camp said that he reportedly left the country to seek "medical treatment in the United States.