DOJ chief: All indicators point to Zaldy Co arrest

Despite lack of photos or documents proving the arrest of former lawmaker Zaldy Co, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida on Tuesday said that all indicators point to his arrest by Czech authorities.

“Bakit naman magtatanong ang isang ahensya o ang isang government agency na may nakakakilala ba sa taong ito kung wala sa kanila?” he said in a briefing.

(Why would an agency or a government agency ask if anyone knows this person if none of them do?)

“Pero wala talaga pong dokumento na makakapag — okay, pero lahat po ng indikasyon nagsasabi na nandoon po ang kustodiya sa kanila,” he added.

(But there really is no document that can — okay, but all indications say that custody of them is there.)

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. previously announced that Co, the former chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, was arrested in Prague.

Marcos has said the government will bring Co home in accordance with the law.

Asked what these indicators are, Vida said the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime was notified that Zaldy Co was in a certain location and if there was an arrest warrant against him.

“Na baka ‘yung mga miyembro ng [United Nations Convention Against Corruption] ay kilala itong taong ito. Baka kayo ay may international arrest warrant tungkol sa taong ito,” he said.

(That perhaps the members of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption know this person. Perhaps you have an international arrest warrant concerning this person.)

“Kung wala naman sa kanila si former Congressman Zaldy Co bakit sila magtatanong? Bakit out of the blue, biglang — that’s one clear indication,” he added.

(If former Congressman Zaldy Co is not with them, why would they ask? Why out of the blue, suddenly— that’s one clear indication.)

Asked if there was physical evidence regarding the arrest, Vida said there were no documents and pictures that could confirm this, citing data privacy in the European Union.

Vida said the Czech Republic also did not confirm the arrest.

“Under their rules, they do not confirm,” he said.

He said the Philippine government is sending a team to the Czech Republic within the week to meet with the appropriate officials regarding Co.

The Justice seretary said he would need to “play it by ear” when asked if the team will ask Czech authorities to allow them to see Co in his detention.

Vida said the government is also exploring all available legal processes to bring Co back to the country.

Meanwhile, he maintained that the DOJ and the Philippine government is confident that Co will return to the country.

He stressed that both the Philippines and the Czech Republic are both signatories of the UN Convention Against Corruption.

“Pag tinanong niyo, bakit confident si Secretary Vida? Ito po yung isang pinaghahawakan. Kasi alam ko po, alam natin, na sa Czech Republic, hindi din nila kinokonsinti ang korapsyon,” he said.

(If you ask why Secretary Vida is confident, this is one of the things he is relying on. Because I know, we know, that in the Czech Republic, they also do not tolerate corruption.)

“Hindi din sila papayag na magiging, masasawata ‘yung objective na mapanagot ‘yung dapat mapanagot dahil nanaguan lang sa ibang bansa,” he added.

(They will not allow the objective of holding those accountable to be thwarted just because they hid in another country.)

State witness

Meanwhile, when asked if Zaldy Co may be considered a state witness, Vida said there is a low probability that Co may be a state witness.

“Is it probable? Ang dami na po nating na establish sa ating mga imbestigasyon ‘yung kanyang aktibo at malaking partisipasyon sa bagay na ito,” he said.

(Is it probable? We have established a lot of things in our investigation, like his active participation in the issues.)

“Kung probable, medyo mababa na ‘yung probability (the probability is low),” he added.

When asked about alleged threats to Co’s life, Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro said that this must first be proven.

“But nevertheless, the government will always assure the safety and the needed protection to be given to Zaldy Co," she said.

The former lawmaker is facing charges of graft and malversation in connection with an alleged substandard P289 million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

He has denied the allegations against him.

In March, the Sandiganbayan upheld its declaration that Co is a fugitive from justice. — BAP, GMA News