Marcos 'disappointed' Zaldy Co wasn't brought back to PH
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is dismayed to learn that former lawmaker-turned-fugitive Zaldy Co is no longer under the custody of Czech authorities.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that the Department of Foreign Affairs has received "highly reliable information" that Co has a pending petition for political asylum in France as he faces an arrest order in the Philippines for his alleged involvement in the flood control corruption.
"He has been requested to be transferred to and is now under the jurisdiction of French authorities. All missions in Europe have been instructed to obtain further official confirmation," Castro said.
She asserted that the government is firm in its commitment to pursue Co’s return to the country and ensure that he faces the charges filed against him.
"We will work with foreign governments through every legal channel available under international laws to bring Zaldy Co home to face the graft and malversation cases filed against him," Castro said.
According to her, Marcos will meet up with ambassadors from both France and the Czech Republic to discuss what lapses may have occurred, what should have been done, and what else can still be done to bring Co back to the country.
Should the asylum be granted, Co may no longer be immediately subject to the Philippine authorities’ custody requests, as this would place him under the protection and legal jurisdiction of the host country.
Marcos 'disappointed' over Co's continued evasion
Castro revealed that Marcos was admittedly disappointed upon learning of the failure to bring back Co to the Philippines.
"Naka-usap po mismo natin ang pangulo ngayong araw at sinabi niya na disappointed siya dahil malapit na sana natin napauwi si Zaldy Co. But since meron nga pong ibang bansang involved, at ang lumalabas lamang po na kanyang na-violate ay ang paggamit ng invalid documentation, ang bansang Czech Republic po ang siyang mag-uutos kung anong gagawin kay Zaldy Co," she said.
On April 16, Marcos himself announced on Facebook, "Nahuli na si Zaldy Co. He is not detained in Prague after crossing into the Czech Republic without proper documentation and is currently in the custody of Czech authorities."
However, it was later confirmed that Co had left the country and is no longer under their custody.
When asked if Marcos would issue an apology for "raising people's expectations" on Co's arrest, Castro said, "Lahat naman po tayo ay umasa. Lahat naman po na dapat gawin ay ginawa ng pangulo at ng administration."
"Ang kanyang inireport naman po ay tama, so wala po tayong nakikita na maaaring sabihing pagkakamali ng pangulo," she said.
However, Castro noted that there will be discussions on whether there were any lapses or actions that may have been missed.
DFA on Co's passport
The Department of Foreign Affairs has also issued a statement clarifying that it has canceled one regular and one diplomatic passport "by virtue of a court order in December 2025."
"This was immediately reported to INTERPOL," it said.
The DFA also addressed concerns regarding the foreign passport Co was using when he was apprehended at the German border from the Czech Republic.
"With regard to his other regular passport which expired in September 2022 and which may have been used by Mr. Co to cross to Germany from the Czech Republic, this need not be cancelled since its expiration rendered it unusable for international travel," it said.
Co is considered a central figure in the flood control scandal involving billions of pesos lost to alleged corruption.
