Czech police ‘aware of Filipino situation’ but mum about Zaldy Co’s arrest

PRAGUE – Police in the Czech Republic are “aware of the Filipino situation” but have deferred to the Ministry of Interior for details regarding the arrest of former Ako Bicol Party-List representative Zaldy Co in Prague on Thursday.

Following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s announcement of Co’s apprehension, GMA News went to the Presidium – the headquarters of the Czech police in Prague and the International Police Cooperation Directorate – to confirm Co’s current whereabouts.

A Czech police press room officer initially told GMA News over the phone that they were “aware of the Filipino situation” and that they were “organizing information.” 

The press room officer later deferred to the Ministry of Interior for comment. GMA News Online has reached out to the Ministry of Interior for details and will update this story once available.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in the Czech Republic was also mum about Co’s arrest and if consular assistance would be extended to the former congressman.

“The Philippine Embassy will be reporting to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on this matter,” the embassy said in a statement to GMA News.

On Thursday night, Marcos announced Co’s arrest on social media accounts.

He added that the government is in “close coordination with the Czech government to ensure that all legal processes are followed and to arrange for his return to the Philippines at the soonest possible time.”

Co is facing charges of graft and malversation along with 15 others in connection with an alleged substandard P289 million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

In early January, Co reportedly appeared before the Stockholm County Administrative Board in Stockholm, Sweden, to sign a verification and certification of non-forum shopping attached to his petition before the Supreme Court (SC). — JMA, GMA News