Zaldy Co reportedly with family when stopped at German border lacking travel documents

Former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co was reportedly with his family when they were stopped and subjected to a random check at the border as they were entering Germany from the Czech Republic.

According to Mariz Umali’s report on “24 Oras,” a source said Co and his family were together in a car with French license plates and driven by a French driver when they went through the border check.

Germany’s more stringent border control, marked by temporary and random checks, was supposed to last only until the first week of April but was extended until September 15.

It was not clear who among his family was with Co but they were among those subjected to the random border checks by the German authorities. Without their travel dcouments, they were sent back to the Czech Republic.

“He is considered an unwanted alien because he had no travel papers,” Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla said.

Remulla said the Portuguese passport that Co was suspected of having was not with him when he crossed the border. “ID lang ang dala niya (He only had an ID with him),” Remulla said.

Co reportedly went to the US in August 2025 for medical treatment. He never returned after that trip.

He was reported to have been to Singapore and Japan before going to Europe.

Co reportedly bought a house in Portugal and even reportedly secured a Portuguese passport.

“The difficult part is that there is still no red notice from Interpol,” Remulla said. He said the Philippine government applied for the red notice on Co in November 2025.

With Europe’s one-visa policy, Co could freely go around the continent. He was reported to have been spotted in France and Italy before the Holy Week. 

The Philippines has no extradition treaty with the Czech Republic. High-level talks are ongoing to ensure his return to the Philippines. –NB, GMA News