DOJ: Czech trip on Zaldy Co case won’t end ‘empty-handed’

Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said the Philippine government will not return “empty-handed” from its trip to the Czech Republic, as officials move to clarify the status of former congressman Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co and pursue steps for his possible return to face charges in the Philippines.

Speaking at a press briefing in Prague on Sunday, Vida said Philippine officials are set to meet with Czech authorities on Monday to verify Co’s status, validate information gathered, and discuss legal options for his return.

“Tomorrow po, matutuloy yung aking pagpupulong sa mga counterpart natin mula sa Czech authorities. At marami po tayong mga bagay na lilinawin at iba-validate yung mga impormasyon,” Vida said.

(Tomorrow, my meeting with our counterparts from the Czech authorities will push through. We have many matters to clarify and information to validate.)

Vida said the Philippine side has already gathered “workable intel” from initial coordination in Prague, but declined to provide details pending validation.

“So we’ll build on that. But basically, we’re studying everything,” he said.

Asked if he could return to Manila without Co, Vida said the mission would still yield results.

“Definitely not empty-handed. With what I already know now, with what we already understand of their processes, definitely not empty-handed,” he said.

Vida also said they now have a "clearer picture" of Co's movements in Europe

Red notice request

Vida also confirmed that a team from the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime had arrived in Prague carrying additional documents to complete the Philippines’ submission to Interpol in Lyon, France, in support of a red notice request against Co.

“As of now, the fact that he still has no red notice means there are still lacking submissions,” Vida said.

He declined to give a timeline for the possible issuance of the red notice, citing Interpol’s internal procedures.

“The predictability of when it will come out, we cannot tell. I don’t want to speculate. Otherwise, we would be giving false information to the public,” he said.

Vida also said Philippine authorities have yet to receive definitive confirmation of Co’s exact whereabouts, which he said would be a key point in Monday’s meeting.

“The actual fact of where he is, I will get more information by tomorrow,” he said.

He added that reports placing Co under Czech authorities were accurate, but stopped short of calling it an arrest.

“Definitely, I can tell you it’s not fake news,” Vida said.

“There’s a technical term for it so I’d rather not use it. It’s true that he was at a certain point under Czech authorities, under the jurisdiction of the Czech authorities,” he added.

Vida stressed that the government’s objective remains unchanged.

“The objective really is to bring him home and let him face the charges filed against him,” he said.—MCG, GMA News