MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a study of all possible means to return resigned House lawmaker Zaldy Co to the Philippines, including special repatriation and the creation of an extradition treaty with Portugal, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Tuesday.

Co, who is reportedly linked to a massive corruption scheme at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), was last reported in Portugal, a country that does not have an extradition treaty with the Philippines.

At a press briefing, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said authorities will explore multiple avenues to bring Co back, including requesting repatriation through Interpol.

“Nagbigay na ng instructions ang president na formally mag-apply na kami ng extradition treaty sa kanila kahiit wala pang formal extradition treaty between the two countries. But through Interpol (International Police), mag request na kami ng repatriation ni Zaldy Co kung nasa Portugal talaga siya,” Remulla said.

He noted that, as far as he knew, this would be the first time the Philippines would request extradition from a non-treaty partner.

Remulla later clarified that extraditing Co without a treaty is “almost impossible” and would take too long. He said the presidential directive is to study the possibility of applying for extradition while exploring other means through the United Nations, Interpol, and other channels.

Co reportedly left the Philippines before the flood control scandal surfaced, in which billions of pesos were allegedly funneled through bogus flood control projects and other infrastructure developments, with lawmakers and officials accused of pocketing massive amounts of cash.

“Let me clarify. The president instructed [us] to study the possibility of applying for extradition of Zaldy Co with Portugal,” Remulla said.