PH officials visit Zaldy Co in Prague after arrest, DILG's Remulla says

Philippine officials have visited former lawmaker Zaldy Co in Prague, Czech Republic following his arrest, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Friday.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Remulla said Co was arrested in Prague at about 3 p.m. on Thursday (Manila time) for allegedly traveling without valid travel documents.

This was after his Philippine passport was cancelled and he also reportedly failed to present his Portuguese passport.

"Yes," Remulla said when asked if Philippine officials already visited Co in Prague.

"'Yung ating police attache nandoon na, nagco-coordinate, as well as very vigorous ang coordination ng ating DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) dito sa local and international counterparts para mabilis ang kanyang deportation papunta rito," he added.

(Our police attache is already there, coordinating. The DFA is also coordinating very vigorously with local and international counterparts so that Co can be extradited quickly.)

Remula said the former lawmaker is in good health.

"Ang balita namin, healthy naman. Healthy enough to travel. Naka-kotse lang siya umikot ng Europe. So I guess he's healthy. Wala kaming exact medical report pero you would deduce that he is healthy enough to travel by car around Europe," he added.

(Our understanding is that he's healthy. Healthy enough to travel. He was traveling by car around Europe. So I guess he's healthy. We don't have an exact medical report but you would deduce that he is healthy enough to travel by car around Europe.)

The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), is coordinating closely with Czech counterparts to facilitate his possible repatriation.

Remulla said the exact timeline of Co's return to the Philippines remains uncertain, as this will depend on the Czech government and the coordination of the DFA.

"I give it a 70% to 30% chance na uuwi na natin dito. Pero as days go down, magiging 80% to 20% 'yan. I am almost certain na dahil tama ang procedure na sinusundan natin. Makukuha natin siya," he said.

(I give it a 70% to 30% chance that we can bring him here. But as the days go down, the chances will become 80% to 20%. I am almost certain because we follow the proper procedures. We will get him.)

He noted that deportation could involve transit through another country before repatriation.

"Nahuli siya as a, 'yun nga, traveling without public document and he's held in custody. Ang normal procedure diyan is that he is deported from port of origin," he said.

(He was captured for traveling without public document and he's held in custody. The normal procedure is that he is deported from port of origin.)

"In this case, sa France. Sa France siya nanggaling tumawid (He crossed over from France)," he added.

READ | Who is Zaldy Co?

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Friday said Co was stopped at the German border after entering from the Czech Republic.

Arrest warrants were issued against Co and 17 others including officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and directors of Sunwest Corp. over supposed anomalous flood control projects. 

The Ombudsman filed with the Sandiganbayan corruption and malversation of public funds charges against Co and others over the alleged anomalous P289-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

These were the first lodged against those allegedly involved in the flood control kickback scheme that Marcos first flagged during his fourth State of the Nation Address in July 2025.

Government prosecutors said the P289-million non-existent flood control project built by Sunwest Corporation, a firm owned by Co's immediate family members, is substandard.

"The Office of the Ombudsman welcomes the issuance of warrants of arrest against Zaldy Co and the 17 other accused in the corruption cases filed before the Sandiganbayan last Tuesday," the Ombudsman said in a statement.

"To the law enforcement agencies whose responsibility it is to effect the arrests—execute the warrants without delay. Ensure their immediate arrest and bring them before the bar of justice," it added.

Co has denied the allegations. — VDV, GMA News