Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Wednesday said the reported appearance of former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co in Sweden may be a deliberate attempt to mislead authorities searching for him.

Lacson made the statement following the release of documents showing that Co went to Sweden to have a petition notarized in connection with a case he filed before the Supreme Court on January 15. Despite this, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier said Co was traced to an upscale, gated subdivision in Portugal.

According to Lacson, Co’s presence in Sweden does not necessarily mean he is based there, noting that the former lawmaker could be moving between countries to evade authorities. He added that it is now up to the executive branch to demonstrate how serious it is in tracking down Co, who has been linked to the alleged multi-billion-peso flood control fund anomaly.

Lacson also warned that if Co fails to appear in the next hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, the panel will issue a warrant of arrest against him.

The former congressman remains at the center of a Senate investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control projects, as lawmakers continue to press for accountability in the case.