Nothing premature with Marcos announcement on Zaldy Co, Palace says

Malacañang said Monday there's nothing premature with the announcement of President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. about former lawmaker Zaldy Co being held by Czech Republic authorities. 

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro underscored this when pressed if the President had announced unverified information about Co's status. 

''Ano ba ang inanunsyo ng Pangulo? Hindi ba ang inanunsyo ng Pangulo na unang-una ay nahuli si Zaldy Co, totoo naman... nasa kustodiya ng Czech Republic, totoo naman... ang sabi ng Pangulo nakikipagcoordinate tayo sa Czech Republic, totoo naman. So anong premature doon? Walang premature doon,'' Castro said in a press briefing.

(What did the President announce? He announced that Co was held in custody, that's correct... he said Co was in custody of Czech Republic, that's correct also... he also said that we are coordinating with Czech Republic, that's right... So, what's premature with that? There's nothing premature with that.)

Last week, Department of Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez clarified that Co was not technically arrested by Czech authorities, but his liberty was restrained for possible violation of immigration regulations.

Castro maintained that the President's announcement was not wrong as this could mean that Co was held in custody or his movement was prevented by Czech Authorities. Castro added that the word ''arrest'' did not come from Marcos. 

''Pag sinabi nating nahuli na si Zaldy Co, it doesn't necessarily mean na it is an arrest. Ang nahuli na salita ay very general. So kapag nahuli, pwede nating sabihin na napahinto, naistop, naprevent sa pagkilos. At hindi mali ang Pangulo sa kanyang inulat noong April 16,'' Castro said. 

(If we said that we caught Zaldy Co, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's an arrest. The term arrest is very general. So if we say that he's caught, it could mean that he was stopped and his movement was prevented. The President was not wrong with his announcement last April 16.) 

''Hindi po ito mali, hindi po nanggaling sa Pangulo mismo ang salitang aresto. Pero hindi rin po kinakaila ng SOJ that the movements of Zaldy Co were restrained to a certain extent,'' she added. 

(It's not wrong, the term arrest did not come from the President. But SOJ also admitted that the movements of Zaldy Co were restrained.) 

The President had said the Philippine government is working with Czech authorities so that Co would be brought back to the country so he could face the charges filed against him. 

READ: Who is Zaldy Co?

Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida, who is presently in Prague, said the DOJ delegation has obtained “workable intel” that is helping clarify how reports emerged that Co had been sighted and encountered by authorities.

Vida said information gathered so far is being validated ahead of a scheduled meeting with Czech authorities, where the Philippine side is expected to seek further details.

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.

Co has denied the allegations against him.

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