Interpol issued "Blue Notice" against former Congressman Zaldy Co, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said, noting that a Red Notice will follow now that Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant last Friday.

Co, who was chairman of the House Appropriations committee. is considered one of the central figures in the flood control scandal.

In a news briefing, Remulla expressed belief that Co "is travelling with another passport."

"We do not know if he is using another name so we are still verifying it. The Blue Notice is out. Now that we have the arrest warrant, the Red Notice can be out and we will further determine his whereabouts," he said.

"Reportedly he has another passport that he is using," he added.

According to Interpol, a "Blue Notice" is used "to collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a criminal investigation" while "Red Notice" is "to seek the location and arrest of persons wanted for prosecution or to serve a sentence."

As of Monday morning, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Co still holds an active Philippine passport.

"As of this morning, we have not received a court order instructing the DFA to cancel his passport," DFA spokesperson Angelica Escalona told reporters on Monday.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier announced that seven individuals involved in the anomalous flood control projects were arrested and surrendered to authorities.

Marcos said two others have expressed their intention to surrender while seven more remain at large.

Remulla said aside from Co, three other accused were monitored outside the country including "Adema Angelie Alcazar, believed to be in New Zealand, Caesar Buenaventura believed to be in New York and Montrexis Tamayo believed to be in Jordan".

He noted that aside from Co, "the others believed to be abroad have made contact with our law enforcement agencies and are expected to show up at the embassy and begin immediate repatriation towards the Philippines."

"They have done so voluntarily and informed us of their whereabouts and we informed them of their right to proceed immediately to the embassy as soon as possible," he said.

"These are the accused personalities. We have to make this clear that no matter where you are in the world we will find you. If you are at large we will find you. If you are hiding in the Philippines we will find you," he added. Robina Asido/DMS