Zaldy Co to return to PH in 1-3 weeks—DILG
Zaldy Co will possibly return to the Philippines in less than a month following his arrest in Prague.
In a DZMM interview on Friday, April 17, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Johnvic Remulla said, "Siguro as little as one week pero as long as three weeks. Depende 'yan sa DFA. Sila talaga ang lead dito."
According to Remulla, bringing Co back to the country may be complicated.
"Well, may komplikasyon pa ng onti. Kasi ang deportation niya is based on a cancelled passport," he said. "'Di niya kasi dala ang kanyang Portuguese passport. Wala siyang dala. Parang nakampante na. Nung nahuli siya dun, nakalagay dun, wala siyang travel document, hinuli siya agad."
Per Remulla, Co was arrested while he was traveling between European countries. "Kasi nga, mahirap sa kanya na nasa loob lang ng isang bahay doon sa Portugal. So ang [last itinerary] niya is Italy, three weeks ago, ngayon, nahuli siya sa Czech Republic na."
He added that Co will remain in Czech Republic while Philippine authorities are coordinating his deportation.
"We have sent forth with the warnings. Nakiusap ang ating DFA na siya ay wanted. And he is being held in detention hanggang ma-process ang kanyang papers," said Remulla.
Co is considered a central figure in the flood control scandal involving billions of pesos lost to alleged corruption.
On Apr. 16, Marcos announced that Co is detained in Prague and is in custody of Czech Republic authorities.
