Senators dismayed over Zaldy Co getting out of Czech custody

Several senators on Tuesday expressed disappointment over reports that former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co has slipped out of the custody of Czech authorities. 

For Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, the development was “embarrassing,” and the Philippine government should blame itself for what happened. 

“Simply put, it was a lost opportunity and our government has nobody to blame except itself. Failing to act with dispatch after having been timely informed of ex-Cong. Zaldy Co’s apprehension by the Czech authorities now puts the government in an embarrassing situation,” Lacson said in a statement.

He stressed that the government must now work double time to bring Co back to the Philippines. 

“Government must now exert extra effort and work double time to bring him back not  only to redeem itself from this lapse but to show its sincerity and seriousness in bringing Co and his co-conspirators to justice,” said Lacson, who chairs the Senate blue ribbon committee looking into the alleged anomalous flood control projects.. 

Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida earlier confirmed that Co—who is wanted in the Philippines on charges of corruption and malversation of public funds in connection with alleged ghost flood control projects—is no longer in the custody of the Czech Republic.

This came nearly two weeks after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced that Co was detained in Prague after crossing into the Czech Republic without proper documentation.

Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito said that the recent development was a “big blow” for the Philippines, considering that Co is tagged as one of the main proponents of the corruption scandal.

“Bad news, sad news na wala na [siya] sa custody ng Czech Republic. Of course, we would want him to be here so that we can already find out what he knows—kung ano yung participation, sino ‘yung mga kasama. Kailangan talagang may managot dito,” Ejercito said in an ambush interview. 

(It's bad and sad news that Co is no longer in the custody of the Czech Republic. Of course, we would want him to be here so that we can already find out what he knows—what his participation was, who his associates were. Someone really needs to be held accountable here.) 

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also said Co getting out of Czech custody was regrettable since Filipinos want justice from the flood control mess. 

“This is a temporary setback. Itong si Zaldy Co, may criminal mind eh. Pinlano na niya ito bago pa siya mahuli. Alam na niya kung anong gagawin. So kung may criminal mind ka, meron kang iba ibang citizenship, meron kang iba ibang dokumento, meron kang residency card,” Gatchalian said. 

(This is a temporary setback. Zaldy Co has a criminal mind. He planned this before he was caught. He already knew what to do. So if you have a criminal mind, you have different citizenships, you have different documents, you have a residency card.) 

“So in other words, pinlano na niya talaga ‘tong sitwasyon na ito. Hindi ito basta bastang umalis na lang siya. Alam na niya gagawin niya kung mahuhuli siya, made-detain siya, saan siya iikot,” he added. 

(So in other words, he really planned this situation all along. He didn't just leave. He knew what he would do in case he was caught, if he was detained, where he would escape to.) 

Senator Risa Hontiveros also said the government has to expedite the process to return Co to the Philippines. 

“Kung hindi pala arrested or arrested talaga at kung nasa Czech Republic pa ba or nasa na ba siya sa European Union, these are the next questions now that the Department of Justice or the whole executive have to answer to our people,” Hontiveros said. 

(If he’s arrested or not, or if he is still in the Czech Republic or in other European countries, these are the next questions now that the Department of Justice or the whole executive have to answer to our people.) 

Senator Imee Marcos, meanwhile, just simply laughed the news off. 

The Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) has assured that even though Co is no longer in Czech custody or territory, the requirements the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) needs for a red notice against the ex-lawmaker have been submitted to authorities. — RSJ, GMA News