A Philippine delegation will fly to the Czech Republic to work out the legal details for the return home of former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Tuesday.
“Confident po ang Department of Justice na tama po ang prosesong ginagawa natin. Marami po tayong legal options na ginagawa para ma-ipabalik sya sa atin (The Department of Justice is confident that the process we are following is correct. We are pursuing many legal options to have him returned to us),” DOJ Secretary Fredderick Vida said during a press briefing in Manila.
Vida said the DOJ started the process of bringing Co back to the country since November 2025, when the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant against the former chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations.
He also downplayed speculation that Co is not in the custody of the Czech Republic.
“I do confirm that it’s not a belief. It’s a factual setting na doon sa custody ng (that he is under the custody of) Czech authorities,” he said.
Co, a main suspect in anomalous ghost flood control projects and budget insertions, was arrested and detained in Prague last week after crossing the Czech Republic without proper documentation.
Three arrest warrants have already been issued against Co and it will be up to the Sandiganbayan to decide where to detain him.
“Titimbangin lahat pero walang special treatment. Ang lahat ng mga akusado natin ngayon, ang karamihan na doon sa Quezon City, pero ayaw natin pangunahan. Dahil ang usapin po kung saan ikukulong, ito po ay diskresyon at desisyon ng korte (Every circumstance will be considered, but there will be no special treatment. All the accused in these cases, mostly are at the Quezon City {jail), but we do not want to preempt the court),” Vida said. (PNA)