Published April 24, 2026 10:44pm
Updated April 25, 2026 1:50am
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PRAGUE—It is “possible” that former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co is no longer in the jurisdiction of the Czech Republic, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida told reporters in Prague.
Asked what guarantee the Philippine side has that the Czech Republic would keep Co in their jurisdiction, Vida said, “There’s no such guarantee. We need to respect their laws.”
Is there a possibility that he has gone out of the Czech Republic?
“Possible,” Vida said.
Co, who is facing corruption and malversation cases linked to alleged irregularities in flood control projects, was reportedly placed under immigration detention by Czech authorities.
Vida said meetings with Czech officials, particularly counterparts in the Ministry of Justice, are being arranged to verify the Philippine authorities’ information about Co’s detention and find out ways how he can be brought home.
“Ina-arrange pa. Pina-finalize pa,” he said, adding that the Philippine embassy is working to secure the meetings.
(It’s still being arranged, finalized.)
He emphasized that the Philippines will respect the Czech and European Union processes in handling the case.
“We respect the process… We don’t want to preempt any of the Czech Republic’s decision or the EU’s decision or any authority. This is in recognition of them having their own system,” he said.
Asked to comment on Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s earlier pronouncement that Co would be repatriated to the Philippines in three weeks, Vida replied, “I don’t want to give that message to the Czech authorities that there’s a deadline being imposed on them. We respect their system. We respect their processes.”
Vida said one of the delegation’s objectives is to determine how Co can be brought back to the Philippines.
He also confirmed that there is still no Interpol red notice issued against Co.
“As far as our records… duly verified and validated, wala pang [there is still no] red notice,” Vida said.
He said additional documents are being brought in by a team to support the application for a red notice.
Earlier, DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez clarified that Co was not technically arrested by Czech authorities, but his liberty was restrained for possible violation of immigration regulations.
“For analogy, it’s similar to a situation in the airport where the person arrives and immigration denies entry or excludes the person. Technically, not arrested but there is a deprivation of liberty to a certain degree,” Martinez told the media.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro, meanwhile, said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did not use the term “arrest” when he made the announcement about Co’s detention on April 16.
In Prague, Vida stated that he would rather not speculate as to whether Marcos made a “premature” announcement regarding Co’s status in the Czech Republic.
“I don’t want to speculate that it could be premature. It could be a reality five days from now after my meeting. I’ll report to you again after my meeting on what we have validated and verified,” Vida told reporters.
“We move forward based on empirical data, based on what’s true. That’s why it is important to know the facts.”
Vida is expected to return to the Philippines next week. —NB/VBL, GMA News