MANILA — Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said former lawmaker Zaldy Co, who is facing charges linked to the alleged flood control scam, is currently staying in a luxury residence along Champs-Élysées Avenue in Paris while seeking asylum in France.

In a report, it said that speaking at the Kapihan ng Samahang Plaridel forum, Remulla described the property as a 10-bedroom house located near the Christian Dior boutique.

“He has a house in Champs-Élysées, 10 bedrooms na malapit sa Christian Dior. Ganito kalaki ‘yung taas ng mga ceiling noon, 10 bedrooms. Probably worth five, probably worth maybe 200 million dollars, euros,” Remulla said.

“Doon siya ngayon (He’s there now),” he added.

Remulla said the government remains optimistic that Co could be returned to the Philippines before French authorities decide on his asylum application.

According to the Interior chief, the Philippine government sought an Interpol red notice against Co as early as September 2025.

“I am confident we’ll get the red notice and I’m confident we’re going to get Zaldy Co back here to the Philippines…This is the only hope we have,” he said.

“”I am confident na bago matapos yung asylum application niya, makukuha na natin si Zaldy. Six month application process kasi yan. Sometimes, tumatagal,” he added.

(I am confident that before his asylum application is finished, we will get Zaldy. Because that’s a six month application process. Sometimes, it takes longer.)

Interpol defines a red notice as a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition or other legal action. Member countries decide whether to arrest an individual based on their domestic laws.

Co and 17 others, including officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways and directors of Sunwest Corp., are facing arrest warrants over alleged irregularities involving flood control projects.

The Office of the Ombudsman earlier filed corruption and malversation charges before the Sandiganbayan against Co and his co-accused in connection with the alleged anomalous PHP289-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

Government prosecutors alleged that the supposed non-existent project, which was reportedly undertaken by Sunwest Corporation owned by Co’s immediate family members, was substandard.

Co has denied the allegations.

On April 16, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that Co had been detained in Prague after being stopped at the German border due to travel document issues after entering from the Czech Republic.

Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida later said on April 28 that Co was no longer under the custody of Czech authorities.

Malacañang subsequently confirmed that Co was seeking asylum in France.

Meanwhile, Remulla also provided an update on the asylum application of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

“Si Harry Roque, officially this week, tapos na ang kanyang six months. So we will know by today kung granted ba o hindi,” he said.

(With regards to Harry Roque, officially this week, his application reaches its six-month mark. So we will know by today if his asylum bid was granted or not.)

Remulla said Roque could face expulsion if his asylum request is denied.

“Kung hindi nag-grant, puwede na siyang i-expel doon kasi wala na siyang travel papers. At saka ‘yung kaso niya kasi is human trafficking. Kaya iba ang level noon na banned sa lahat ng mga bansa talaga,” he added.

(If it was not granted, he could be expelled there because he no longer has travel papers. And then his case is human trafficking. So it is a different level, it’s banned from all countries.)

In May 2025, warrants of arrest were issued against Roque, Cassandra Ong, and 48 others for qualified human trafficking in connection with the alleged scam hub operated by Philippine offshore gaming operator Lucky South 99 in Porac town.

Roque has denied the accusations and described them as politically motivated.

The Philippine government requested an Interpol red notice against Roque in November last year, while the Department of Foreign Affairs also confirmed the cancellation of his passport during the same month.

Roque earlier disclosed in March last year that he had applied for asylum in the Netherlands.

He said Dutch authorities advised him to return to Austria under the European Union’s Dublin procedure because he entered Europe using a Schengen visa issued by Austria.