DOJ chief heading team to bring back Co from Prague

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) expressed confidence that former lawmaker and fugitive Zaldy Co is in the custody of authorities in the Czech Republic and would be brought back to the Philippines, although no definite timeline has been set.

“I would like to refute claims that the accused, former congressman Zaldy Co, is not in the custody of the Czech Republic. With this press briefing, I confirm that this is not just a belief. It is a factual situation that former congressman Zaldy Co is in the custody of Czech authorities,” Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said yesterday in Filipino.

Vida disclosed that the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime was informed by Czech authorities about the arrest of Co and another Filipino male, whose identity has yet to be confirmed by the Philippine government.

He added that he would head a team leaving within the week to meet with Czech officials and discuss the process of bringing Co back to the country.

The DOJ is considering deportation, extradition or invoking the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) – to which both the Philippines and the Czech Republic are signatories – as possible means to facilitate his return.

“We know that in the Czech Republic, they do not tolerate corruption. They will not allow the objective of holding those accountable to be undermined simply because someone hid in another country. This is recognized by all nations,” Vida explained.

The justice secretary also addressed doubts about Co’s custody, citing strict data privacy rules in the European Union that limit public confirmation or documentation of such cases.

“They have rules in the European Union regarding data privacy. So there are no documents or photos that can confirm this. That is how it works – they would neither confirm nor deny these matters. So we respect these processes and such rules,” he said.

Vida declined to provide further details, including photos or a timeline for Co’s return, saying he would not speculate.

Malacañang, meanwhile, gave assurance that Co’s safety would be guaranteed once he is returned to the Philippines.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said authorities must first determine if there are threats to Co’s life.

“So, we have to start there. Are there death threats? How can you assure somebody that he will not be harmed once he returns to the Philippines if there are no death threats?” Castro said.

“But nevertheless, the government will always assure the safety and the needed protection to be given to Zaldy Co,” she added.

Earlier, Sen. JV Ejercito noted that some individuals might not want Co to return and stressed that the challenge is to “bring him back in one piece.”

At the same briefing, Castro rejected claims by former presidential spokesman Harry Roque that Co was not arrested in the Czech Republic.

“The President has spoken. Secretary Vida has also spoken. So, why should we believe a fake news peddler?” she said.

Marcos earlier announced that Co had been arrested after entering the Czech Republic without proper documentation, a claim dismissed by Roque as “fake news.”

Co is facing an arrest warrant for alleged malversation of public funds and graft in connection with a P289.5-million road dike project in Oriental Mindoro.