PH gov't confident on Zaldy Co's return — Palace

The Philippine government is confident that former lawmaker Zaldy Co would be brought back to the Philippines.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said this when asked how confident is the administration that Co will be brought back to the country after Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida's trip to Czech Republic.

''Kung Pilipinas lamang po ang pag-uusapan natin, definitely confident po tayo ... (but)  since mayroon pong ibang bansa na involve dito. So, let us just hope na maibalik agad si Zaldy Co dito sa ating bansa,'' Castro said. 

(If we're only talking about the Philippines, of course we're confident... but we have another country involved here. So, let's just hope that Zaldy Co will be brought here.) 

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' 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.

READ: Who is Zaldy Co?

Vida, who is en route to Czech Republic, said he would need to “play it by ear” when asked if his team will ask Czech authorities to allow them to see Co in his detention.

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

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

Co 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, built by Sunwest Corporation — a firm owned by his immediate family members. 

Former Department of Public Works and Highways district engineer Henry Alcantara linked him and other officials to kickbacks from alleged ghost flood control projects.

The former lawmaker has since denied the accusations against him. He went to the United States in August 2025 for medical treatment and has since not returned to the Philippines.

The Philippine government vowed to ensure the safety and protection of Co once he returns to Manila, Malacañang had said. — RSJ, GMA News