At UN summit, Remulla targets fugitives from justice

The Philippines has a delegation to the biennial, high-level session of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), led by Ombudsman Boying Remulla.

What does he plan to take away from the summit?

As the flood control corruption scandal continues to erode public trust back home, Remulla said the conference is an opportunity to network with other countries where fugitives might seek refuge.

“We want to see that we are on the same boat as many countries and follow the same principles. And based on that, we can actually do a good networking strategy here. Everybody who wants to evade the law will go to another country, and most probably one of the countries who are represented here,” Remulla told Rappler on Monday, December 15, on the sidelines of the 11th Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the UNCAC.

“If we have a good relationship here, we might as well have reciprocity of accommodation with regards to fugitives from justice. Because many will escape. We are sure of that,” added Remulla, the head of the Philippine delegation.

Who could he be referring to?

He said one of them is Zaldy Co, the former congressman who is accused of corrupting the 2025 national budget. He is also believed to still be the owner — despite his divestment — of Sunwest Construction, a contracting firm that has bagged billions in public works projects, some of which turned out to be substandard.

The Sandiganbayan recently declared Co a “fugitive from justice.” Sandiganbayan Presiding Chief Geraldine Econg is part of the Philippine delegation to the COSP.

Co has resigned from Congress, is refusing to come home, and is facing criminal charges. The National Bureau of Investigation has sought an Interpol red notice against him.

But Remulla said there are others.

“There are still many who will escape and look for ways to evade responsibility, accountability and liability. That’s why you should look forward to that scenario. If we go here, that’s our strategy. We rub elbows with them and we break bread with them so we have a good relationship with other countries in the world,” Remulla said.

“We look forward to getting a good directory of the people in attendance so that we can send emails to them when the time arises. And to remind them that we were part of this conference also,” he added.

Aside from Co, another political enemy of the current administration hiding abroad is Duterte-era spokesperson Harry Roque, whose passport has been canceled by a Pasig court over a human trafficking case related to their alleged ties to a gambling operator.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission has already requested a red notice from Interpol against Roque.

COSP11 brings together representatives of 192 governments that ratified the UNCAC, anti-corruption advocates from civil society, media, and the private sector.

COSP resolutions are not legally binding. Whatever is agreed upon in the week-long summit won’t mandate governments to pass measures when they return home.

It will, however, apply pressure on signatory states like the Philippines to meet global standards that have been set. – Rappler.com