The Philippine government will be coordinating with Sweden to apprehend fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Thursday.

According to a report by RH Edniel Parrosa, Remulla said the government will also coordinate with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to “go harder“ in flagging the foreign passport allegedly being used by Co.

“He's using a foreign passport, so nakakaikot nang malaya roon. But, now, we're gonna go harder na ire-red flag namin yung foreign passport niya. Kinukuha namin yung kopya ng passport and we'll put it through Interpol para hindi na siya makalabas ng Portugal at, kung lumabas man, mahuhuli natin,” Remulla told reporters on the sidelines of Philippine National Police (PNP) Day at Camp Crame

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is also verifying reports that Co may currently be in Sweden.

“I am leaving tonight. I'm going to make coordination calls,” Remulla added.

The move comes after reports that Co signed a petition before a notary public in Stockholm, Sweden, on January 15.

Remulla claimed that Co fled the Philippines last July, taking approximately $100 million (around P5.85 billion) abroad via cryptocurrency.

“So very limited. Hindi siya makaka-check in sa mga hotel kasi yung mga credit card security codes nila. Maliban kung alam namin, mga $100,000 million ang dinala niya abroad via crypto,” Remulla said.

“Criminal talaga eh. Marunong talaga sa crime. Pati escape route ng pera, escape route ng bahay niya kung saan siya titira, alam niya. Escape route ng pera, meron siya. Escape route kung paano siya iikot, alam niya rin. Criminal talaga. More than a congressman, more than a businessman, he is a criminal,” Remulla emphasized.

The Interior secretary further maintained Co holds a foreign passport in addition to his canceled Philippine passport, allowing him to cross European borders.

The DILG chief also said Co may be hiding in a gated community in Lisbon, Portugal.

The former lawmaker reportedly sent “feelers” to priests to signal a willingness to engage in dialogue with authorities, although Co’s lawyer has denied these claims.

Co is facing a Sandiganbayan arrest warrant in connection with graft and malversation charges linked to the anomalous P289.5-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro