MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday clarified that former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co was not arrested in Prague, correcting earlier statements and underscoring that his status hinges on legal coordination between Philippine and Czech authorities rather than an enforceable arrest under foreign jurisdiction.
DOJ spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez emphasized that Co is not under arrest under Czech law, calling for precision in describing the situation amid public confusion triggered by earlier remarks from officials.
“We have to be careful with the nomenclature — he was not arrested. When Zaldy Co was found in the Czech Republic, their government notified the Philippines,” Martinez said.
The clarification follows a social media post by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stating that Co had been “arrested” in Prague. Malacañang had earlier dismissed as “fake news” claims that no such arrest took place.
Martinez explained that Czech authorities have no legal basis to arrest Co, as he does not have a standing warrant within their jurisdiction.
“Let’s do away with the word ‘arrest’ because arrest assumes it is being done by the country with jurisdiction over him. The Czech Republic cannot lawfully arrest Zaldy Co because he has no outstanding warrant there,” he said.
He added that Co’s case remains pending in the Philippines, making any action subject to coordination between two sovereign legal systems.
“The case is pending in the Philippines, so these are two different jurisdictions… It wouldn’t be prudent for the Philippines to impose its laws on another sovereign nation,” Martinez said.
Philippine authorities are currently coordinating with Czech counterparts, although details regarding Co’s current custody status have yet to be disclosed.
Martinez said there is no definite timeline for Co’s possible return to the Philippines.
“We cannot provide a timeline. It will depend entirely on how the Czech Republic is willing to accommodate us, with all due respect to their laws,” he said.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has dispatched a delegation led by Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida and Chief State Counsel Dennis Chan to the Czech Republic to initiate formal discussions with authorities. Representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime are also part of the mission./PN
