MANILA, Philippines — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla is preparing to travel to France as Philippine authorities step up efforts to coordinate with French and international agencies over the overseas stay of former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and Sen. Loren Legarda.
But Remulla emphasized that the planned trip is not an immediate operation to bring either person back to the Philippines.
Instead, he said the initial objective is to establish communication, exchange information and lay the groundwork for possible legal and diplomatic steps involving the two Filipinos.
Remulla said authorities are still preparing the itinerary and coordinating with relevant agencies before the trip. He has also written to the French ambassador seeking a meeting with French officials.
“We need to prepare for the trip. May exchange of information muna,” Remulla said, according to DZRH.
France trip is part of wider government effort
The planned visit comes amid increasing government attention on Filipinos facing corruption-related proceedings who are believed to be staying in France.
Co is facing criminal cases connected to alleged anomalies in government flood-control projects. He has also been the subject of efforts to secure an Interpol Red Notice.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, the Ombudsman’s brother, is separately preparing to travel to Lyon to coordinate with Interpol regarding another request for a Red Notice against Co.
A Red Notice is an international request to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition or similar legal proceedings. It is not itself an international arrest warrant, and the country where the person is located ultimately applies its own laws.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has also ordered Interior Secretary Remulla to pursue Co’s return to the Philippines, according to a report by Philstar. Jonvic Remulla said authorities know Co’s whereabouts in France and are working to bring him back.
Remulla: France should not become a refuge for ill-gotten wealth
The Ombudsman previously said his France trip would also involve discussions with French authorities concerning individuals facing cases in the Philippines.
He argued that France should not become a place where people accused of corruption can evade proceedings at home.
However, authorities have acknowledged that reports about Legarda seeking political asylum in France remain unverified.
Remulla said he does not have confirmation that Legarda has formally applied for asylum.
Legarda’s continued absence remains under scrutiny
Legarda has been outside the Philippines since August and has repeatedly extended her medical leave from the Senate.
The Senate recently confirmed another extension keeping her away from the chamber until September 16.
The Ombudsman has been investigating Legarda, her son Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste and former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi over allegations involving solar-energy projects.
The preliminary investigation concerns allegations of plunder and graft tied to renewable-energy contracts and alleged unpaid obligations amounting to more than P10.44 billion, according to the Ombudsman and reports from PNA and Philstar.
Legarda has repeatedly rejected the allegations, calling them false and baseless. Her camp has also accused the government of political persecution, while lawyer Tony La Viña has described the case as alleged “lawfare.”
Ombudsman says absence could complicate investigation
The issue has become more complicated because the preliminary investigation is still ongoing.
Remulla said Legarda and Leviste have already submitted their counter-affidavits, but their continued absence could make it more difficult for investigators to obtain additional information from them.
The Ombudsman has previously raised the possibility of legal measures to ensure their availability if their prolonged absence becomes a serious obstacle to the proceedings.
Legarda, however, has maintained that she is abroad for medical reasons and has rejected accusations that her absence is intended to avoid accountability.
More agencies could join the France mission
Remulla’s planned trip could involve more than just Philippine and French officials.
According to DZRH, the Philippine side is looking at coordination with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), the European Union and Interpol as part of the broader information-gathering effort.
The developments involving Co and Legarda therefore appear to be moving beyond a single investigation and into a broader international coordination effort.
For Co, the immediate focus is his location, arrest and possible return to the Philippines.
For Legarda, the situation remains more complicated because she is an incumbent senator who says her prolonged stay abroad is related to her medical condition, while the Ombudsman continues its preliminary investigation into allegations she strongly denies.
And while Remulla’s France trip is being described as groundwork rather than an immediate recovery operation, what Philippine authorities learn from French and international counterparts could determine the next legal steps in both cases.
For now, the key question remains: Will the France mission simply produce new information—or will it become the first major step toward bringing the two high-profile figures back to the Philippines?
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