Palace hits Harry Roque for saying Zaldy Co arrest was fake

Malacañang on Tuesday hit back at former presidential spokesman Harry Roque for claiming that the arrest of former lawmaker Zaldy Co was fake news.

''Ang Pangulo po ay nagsalita na. Si Secretary Vida ay nagsalita na rin. So, bakit po ba natin paniniwalaan ang isang fake news peddler?'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a press briefing.

(The President has already spoken. Secretary Vida has spoken too. So why would we believe a fake news peddler?)

Last week, President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. announced the arrest of Co, who is one of the 16 individuals facing charges of graft and malversation in connection with the P289 million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

Marcos said Co is currently in the custody of Czech Republic authorities, noting that he will be brought home in accordance with the law. 

In a Facebook post, Roque said recent statements made by the President about Co ''have been contradicted by official clarification from Czech law enforcement.''

''Czech authorities have confirmed that there was indeed an 'intervention' but no arrest or detention of Zaldy Co took place. This directly refutes the earlier assertion that he had been apprehended,'' Roque said.

Roque said the accuracy of the President’s statement is in serious doubt. 

''At best, the claim was premature and unverified; at worst, it contributed to the spread of misinformation on a matter involving international law enforcement,'' he said. 

Marcos already instructed the Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs to take the lead in coordinating with Czech Republic authorities to ensure that due process is followed in bringing back Co to the Philippines. —RF, GMA News