PNP says its role begins upon Zaldy Co's arrival in PH

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday clarified that its participation in the custody of former lawmaker Zaldy Co will begin only once he is in the Philippines.

“Malinaw pa rin po 'yung paninindigan ng PNP na ang participation ng PNP ay mananatili sa custody dito sa Pilipinas. Doon na po magsisimula 'yung role ng PNP,” PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño said at a press briefing.

(The PNP’s stance is still clear that the PNP’s participation will still pertain to the custody here in the Philippines. That’s where the PNP’s role begins.)

“Pinauubaya na po sa Department of Foreign Affairs 'yung mga details ng sinasabi ng diumano kanyang pagkaka-detain sa nasabing bansa po, specifically sa Czech Republic,” he added.

(We defer to the Department of Foreign Affairs the details of his alleged detention in the said country, specifically in the Czech Republic.)

On Monday, Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said Co is no longer in the custody of Czech authorities after his reported arrest.

Asked where the former lawmaker went and which part of the Czech Republic he exited, Vida said the information was not relayed to them.

“They’re citing Schengen rules and data privacy provisions. They were pointing to a possible police cooperation agreement, which we don’t have," he said.

On April 16, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that Co, who is accused of corruption in flood control projects, had been detained in Prague.

Marcos said Co was stopped at the German border after entering from the Czech Republic and that the Philippine government continues to coordinate with Czech officials.

Philippine officials earlier said that they were working to bring Co back to the Philippines.

Arrest warrants were issued against Co and 17 others including officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and directors of Sunwest Corp. over supposed anomalous flood control projects. 

The Ombudsman filed with the Sandiganbayan corruption and malversation of public funds charges against Co and others. 

The charges were in connection with the alleged anomalous P289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro. 

These were the first lodged against those allegedly involved in the flood control kickback scheme that Marcos first flagged during his fourth State of the Nation Address in July last year.

Government prosecutors said that the P289 million non-existent flood control project built by Sunwest Corporation, a firm owned by Co's immediate family members, is substandard.

"The Office of the Ombudsman welcomes the issuance of warrants of arrest against Zaldy Co and the 17 other accused in the corruption cases filed before the Sandiganbayan last Tuesday," the Ombudsman said in a statement.

"To the law enforcement agencies whose responsibility it is to effect the arrests—execute the warrants without delay. Ensure their immediate arrest and bring them before the bar of justice," it added.

Co has denied the allegations.

He was later reported to have left for New York in the United States, citing medical treatment. Since then, the lawmaker was reportedly found in various countries such as Japan and Portugal.

The Sandiganbayan later declared Co a fugitive from justice. 

After several months in hiding, Co was stopped at the German border after crossing from the Czech Republic. He had no proper documentation and was placed in the custody of Czech Republic authorities.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has asked the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to issue a red notice against Co last November.

Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) executive director Major General Romeo Prestoza on Monday in Prague said they sent voluminous documents needed by Interpol in processing the red notice.

The Philippines has no extradition treaty with the Czech Republic, but both have agreed to begin formal negotiations on three agreements regarding law enforcement, including one on extradition, Vida said. —KG, GMA News