Zaldy Co has no Portuguese passport, says source in Portugal Embassy in Prague

PRAGUE – Former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co has no Portuguese passport, a source in the embassy of Portugal in this city told GMA News.

He said he checked their citizens’ registry, the database of Portuguese citizens with citizen cards or passports, upon learning of Co’s arrest and receiving GMA News’ inquiry on Monday.

“There is no ‘Elizaldy Co’ in our citizens’ registry,” the source said.

However, the source said that Portuguese nationals could still maintain citizenship even without a passport.

He said some citizens may be in the process of applying for or awaiting the arrival of their citizen card–and it could be a reason why a name would not appear in the citizens’ registry.

Co’s alleged golden visa

GMA News also sought verification from the Portuguese Embassy in Prague regarding the golden visa that Co reportedly has.

“Portugal is not giving golden visas anymore,” the source said.

Co left the Philippines in the middle of 2025 for medical treatment. He has yet to return and has since resigned from the House of Representatives.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in December 2025 started coordinating with Portugal, as Co, who is facing an arrest warrant over alleged flood control funds corruption, was suspected to have a Portuguese passport.

DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday pointed out that the cancellation of Co’s Philippine passport will limit his movement abroad but the lawmaker’s alleged Portuguese passport may complicate the situation.

Before his arrest on the German-Czech border on Thursday, Co was reportedly living in a “sheltered community” in Lisbon. –NB, GMA News