MANILA – Former lawmaker and fugitive Zaldy Co is reportedly constructing a five-story basement in his Forbes Park residence, allegedly intended for storing large sums of money, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said.

Remulla said initial investigations showed that Co’s house, still under construction, included a five-floor basement, which is unusually large for a private residence.

“We always assume that it is for parking but it is to our knowledge that it was going to be used for storage of money because fire go upwards so they put the money below in the lowest point of the house so that it won’t be harmed if there is a fire,” Remulla said.

He noted that building a five-story basement for a residential property was highly unusual.

“Ang Forbes Park ay may floor to area ratio but the floor to area ratio only covers the vertical. It doesn’t cover when it goes down. The only rational use of a 5-story basement is either a parking garage or a storage for money. Kasi it’s very difficult to live in the basement,” he said.

The construction has been delayed due to recent events surrounding Co, who had fled the country after he was accused of orchestrating budget insertions linked to flood control anomalies.

Remulla said information about the basement was obtained through Co’s applications with the Forbes Park village association and the Makati City government.

“Makukuha mo ‘yan sa applications nila sa village association at sa city, nakikita lahat ‘yan. On initial investigation, nakita ‘yung plans kasi kasama lahat ‘yan when you apply for building permit,” he said.

Malacañang recently said it is open to exploring the use of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) to locate and apprehend Co, complementing ongoing coordination with Interpol.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the proposal, raised by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, has been discussed with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Justice (DOJ), and Department of the Interior and Local Government.

“According to Foreign Affairs Secretary Lazaro, ‘Yes, we can explore UNCAC as it has international cooperation mechanisms, but it will have to depend on the country. Countries are obliged to provide, as applicable and in accord with domestic law, possible mutual legal assistance to each other,’” Castro said.

She added that the Presidential UNCAC Inter-Agency Committee, chaired by the Executive Secretary, must be convened as it “implements and monitors UNCAC.”

On the DOJ’s part, Castro said there has been no formal invocation of UNCAC, with coordination currently limited to Interpol. Interior Secretary Remulla confirmed that “the matter has been referred to the commission for transnational crimes” and that the option mentioned by Senator Lacson “is part of the agenda.”

Castro also clarified that delays in arresting Co were not due to intelligence issues, noting that the warrant of arrest was issued only recently.

“Kailan lamang po nagkaroon ng warrant of arrest…last week, two weeks ago. But hindi po ibig sabihin nito na napakatagal na po…wala pong kinalaman ito sa intel funds,” she said.

On President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s earlier assurance that arrests would be made before Christmas in connection with alleged flood control anomalies, Castro said, “Katulad po ng pangako ng Pangulo ay mayroong maisyuhan ng warrant of arrest, may hindi magiging maganda ang Pasko dahil sa mga nasangkot sa maanomalyang flood control project.”

She urged the public to wait for updates as the DOJ and Office of the Ombudsman continue working on the cases.