MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government has begun coordinating with Portuguese authorities to locate and repatriate former House appropriations chair and resigned Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co, according to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

Co was last known to be in Portugal and has remained خارج the country since the flood control scandal involving him surfaced, Remulla earlier said.

Asked during an interview on GMA’s Balitanghali on Thursday whether coordination with Portugal was already underway, Remulla confirmed that efforts are ongoing but cautioned that the process could take time.

“We’re already coordinating. International law takes a long time. It’s a slow process,” Remulla said.

Co is among 16 individuals accused of graft and malversation in connection with an allegedly anomalous flood control project in Oriental Mindoro. The case has drawn national attention amid broader scrutiny of government infrastructure spending.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Wednesday that Co’s passport had been cancelled as part of efforts to compel his return to the Philippines. Remulla said the move was communicated to international authorities.

“All countries, all centers for transnational crimes all around the world have been informed that Zaldy Co’s passport has been cancelled,” he said.

Of Co’s 15 co-accused, nine were taken into government custody last November and have since entered not guilty pleas before the Sandiganbayan.

Co has denied the allegations against him. In earlier statements, he rejected responsibility for the alleged corruption and instead pointed to President Marcos as the supposed mastermind behind the project, a claim Malacañang has not accepted.

Authorities said coordination with foreign governments would continue as the case proceeds in Philippine courts.