MANILA — The Philippine government has intensified diplomatic and legal efforts to bring home fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co after he was arrested in Prague and denied entry into Germany, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. confirmed Friday.
In a post on X, Marcos said Co remains under custody of Czech authorities after being turned back at the German border.
“Our coordination with Czech authorities continues,” Marcos said. “He was denied entry and returned to Czech authorities, where he remains in custody.”
Co was earlier apprehended in Prague for allegedly entering the Czech Republic without proper documentation. Authorities have since classified him as an undocumented foreign national and placed him in an immigration detention facility.
Government officials revealed that Co had been moving across several European countries prior to his arrest, including Italy and Portugal, in an apparent attempt to evade authorities.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the government had been closely tracking Co’s movements in recent weeks.
“We were also hot on his tail. Two weeks ago, he was in Italy. He was moving around, we just couldn’t catch him,” Remulla said.
With Co now in custody, Philippine authorities are working through diplomatic channels to secure his return, with the Department of Foreign Affairs leading coordination efforts alongside Philippine officials stationed in Prague.
The government is also pursuing the issuance of an Interpol red notice, which has been under application since November 2025, to facilitate Co’s transfer back to the Philippines.
Remulla noted that deportation remains the most viable route for Co’s return, citing the absence of a confirmed extradition treaty covering the case.
Once repatriated, Co will be handed over to the Philippine National Police at Camp Crame for medical examination and documentation before being transferred to the Sandiganbayan, which will determine the conditions of his detention as he faces charges.
Co, a former chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, has been linked to alleged irregularities involving flood control projects.
Malacañang said Marcos has directed authorities to strictly observe legal procedures while exhausting all available remedies to ensure Co’s swift return to the country./PN
