Voluminous documents for red notice vs. Zaldy Co already sent to authorities —PCTC

PRAGUE – Even though former congressman Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co is no longer in Czech custody or territory, the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) assures that the requirements International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) needs for a red notice against the ex-lawmaker have been submitted to authorities.

“We have already sent it to the (Interpol) secretariat, and we expect that, with that amount of voluminous documents they need, they can eventually grant us (the red notice),” PCTC’s executive director Major General Romeo Prestoza said during the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) briefing in Prague on Monday.

“We have to emphasize to the Interpol that he is facing all these really big cases, crimes. And a red notice is very much important, so it has to be released,” Prestoza added.

According to Interpol, a red notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person who is wanted by a requesting member country or an international tribunal pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

Interpol, however, clarified that this is not an international arrest warrant.

Acting DOJ Secretary Fredderic Vida announced that the Czech officials they met on Monday said Co was no longer in their custody. 

The Czech officials also did not relay information on where Co went and which part of the Czech Republic he exited. 

However, he confirmed the former Ako Bicol Party-list representative “is within the Schengen Area.”

“That is the workable intent of it,” Vida said.

Has Co applied for asylum?

When asked whether Co had applied for asylum, Vida said he couldn’t ask the Czech officials.

“Teka, nagtanong kami (Wait, we tried to ask). We pursued any additional information, and their reply was, ‘We can no longer give you further information.’ Paano ka pa magtatanong ng segundo tanong? (How could you ask a second question if they had already said that?” Vida clarified.

Despite what Vida called a “temporary setback”, he vowed that the Philippine government would continue its work to bring Co back.

“What we can do is work within those frameworks as aggressively as the law allows. We already filed our application in November with Interpol, with the Interpol Secretariat for Red Notice against Mr. Co. and we are awaiting Interpol's evaluation. Once issued, the Red Notice would enable any member country to detain and return him through extradition or deportation.”

READ: NBI seeks Interpol red notice vs. Zaldy Co

Vida also announced that the Philippines and the Czech Republic have agreed to begin formal negotiations on three agreements regarding law enforcement, including one on extradition.

At the same time, the justice chief is confident that the former lawmaker will be brought home to face charges of corruption and malversation of public funds in connection with an alleged ghost flood control project.

“Kung mangyayari this year, hindi ko masasagot because maraming factors na involved. Kung maibabalik ba siya sa Pilipinas para maharap ang mga kasong siya ay kinakaharap at siya ay nasasagdal, opo. Mataas ang kumpiyansa, 99%.

(If he were to be brought back home this year, I cannot answer because of the many factors involved. But if he were brought back to the Philippines so he could face the charges against him–yes, I am confident. 99% confident.)

Why not 100%, reporters asked.

“Because he leaves something to chance. That’s why we do everything as much as we do. Nagdadasal din tayo at humihingi tayo ng tulong sa Kanya. At sa dulo nitong lahat, sa mga kababayan ko, iisa ho yung adhikain [at] pananaw natin.”

(We are praying and asking God for help. At the end of this, to my countrymen, we all have one goal and vision–to bring Co back home.)

Co, a former chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations, has been accused of manipulating the national budget during his term. 

The accusations came amid moves to block the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President.

This led to the removal of more than P168 billion in unprogrammed appropriations and more than P26 billion worth DPWH projects by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Following this, Co resigned from his post as House Appropriations Committee chair for health reasons.

READ: Who is Zaldy Co? 

On September 29, 2025, Co also resigned from the House of Representatives amid allegations of massive corruption in connection with flood control projects and insertions in the national budget, accusations that he repeatedly denied while abroad.

He cited alleged threats to his life, and that he had divested from construction firm Sunwest Corporation which has been linked to multi-milliion peso flood control projects. Sunwest Corporation is a firm owned by his immediate family members. 

In November 2025, Co had released a series of videos claiming that he had been ordered by Marcos to insert P100 billion into the national budget and had delivered suitcases of money to the President and the former House Speaker.

 Malacañang has since denied the allegations.

Co is one of the 16 individuals facing charges of graft and malversation in connection with the alleged substandard P289 million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro built by Sunwest Corporation.

Co 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. —KG, GMA News