MANILA — Fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co has reportedly sent “feelers” indicating his willingness for dialogue, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Wednesday.

In an interview at Camp Crame, Remulla said Co reached out through his contacts in the clergy, specifically to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.

“He sent feelers through some of the priests he knew. They asked to connect with us to have a dialogue… Not through me, through the Ombudsman,” Remulla said.

Remulla clarified that the communication has not been verified and described it as a friend-of-a-friend inquiry.

The DILG chief said authorities are open to dialogue with Co, but only if it does not involve bribery.

“‘Yung gusto makipag-dialogue, kakausapin namin ‘yan. Pero, kung bribe ay huwag na (We’ll talk with anyone who is willing to talk, but if it’s about bribery, then no),” he said.

Co, along with several former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials in Mimaropa, faces graft charges related to an allegedly anomalous PHP289 million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

In a related update, Remulla announced the arrest of DPWH engineer Emelita Juat, a co-accused of former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. in connection with alleged “ghost” flood control projects in Bulacan.

Juat, arrested in Obando, Bulacan, is the last of Revilla’s co-accused to fall into government custody.

“So all of them are accounted for na,” Remulla said.

Juat was turned over to the Bulacan 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company for documentation before appearing before the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday morning for booking procedures. She was ordered detained at Camp Karingal in Quezon City.

Revilla and five other co-accused were previously taken into custody after the Sandiganbayan Third Division issued arrest warrants.