Manila, Jan. 29 -- Malacanang on Thursday said the government remains optimistic that fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co will be located and brought back to the Philippines to face charges, even as authorities verify conflicting reports on his whereabouts in Europe.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the government is coordinating closely with concerned agencies after court documents indicated that Co may be in Sweden, contrary to local authorities' information that he was hiding in Portugal.

"Sa ngayon po ay nakikipag-ugnayan din po tayo sa DILG [Department of the Interior and Local Government] at ang huli nga po nilang sinabi ay aalamin po nila kung ito'y may katotohanan (At present, we are coordinating with the DILG, and they sai...