Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla assured the safety of former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, stating they can provide him protection should the latter decide to return to the Philippines.

In a press conference on Wednesday, November 19, Remulla stated that although he knows that Co can buy the best security needed, they are willing to make arrangements for the former lawmaker.

“He can buy the best security needed, and we can give him protection. Kami pa ba, gusto namin [na] may mangyari kahit kanino? Ayaw naming mangyari ‘yan,” he said.

“Kung mayroon siyang ibang kinatatakutan, sabihin niya. Pero tutulungan namin siya, we do not want anybody to be gone. Siyempre sa amin ibibintang ‘yan kung may mangyari [na masama]...at least when I was with the DOJ, I was part of the executive. Just the same, as Ombudsman, lalo na. I need witnesses alive,” he explained.

Remulla even offered to pick Co up from the airport and transport him through a route inside a vehicle with someone the latter trusts. Moreover, he said that they can put everything happening on video, going as far as suggesting personnel wear body-worn cameras the whole time.

The Ombudsman’s statement came after a reporter asked him about Co’s statement regarding the latter’s fear of going back to the Philippines due to a threat on his life.

On Sunday evening, November 16, the former lawmaker alleged that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez threatened to shoot him if he disclosed details of the alleged transactions concerning the anomalous flood control projects.

“At pagkatapos niyang sabihin sa akin in a phone call na, ‘Don’t come home, we will take care of you,’ tumawag ulit si Speaker Martin at sinabihan niya ako pag umuwi ako, will be dangerous kasi they might hire someone to do a robout on me or hire the police to kill me while in jail,” Co said.