The Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) has admitted it cannot guarantee the current location of fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co, one week after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the official’s capture in the Czech Republic.
- Charges: Zaldy Co faces graft and malversation cases regarding alleged flood control corruption in Oriental Mindoro.
- Location Status: The DOJ cannot confirm if Co remains in the Czech Republic or has already left the country.
- Legal Dispute: Officials are clarifying whether Co was “arrested” or simply detained for immigration violations.
Acting DOJ Secretary Fredderick Vida told reporters during a remote briefing on Friday, April 24, that he has “no specific answer yet” regarding Co’s whereabouts. Vida stated that there is no guarantee Co is still in the Czech Republic and acknowledged it is possible he may have already left.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had previously announced on April 16 that Co was in the custody of Czech authorities after crossing into the country without proper documentation. The President had promised Co’s return to the Philippines at the earliest possible time.
Zaldy Co and the Legal Definition of Arrest
The Marcos administration has faced internal inconsistency regarding the terminology used to describe Co’s detention. On Friday, the DOJ clarified that Co was not “technically arrested” by Czech authorities.
DOJ spokesperson Prosecutor Rafael Martinez explained that while Co’s liberty was restrained, the situation was similar to an immigration official denying entry to a person at an airport. He described it as a “deprivation of liberty to a certain degree” rather than a formal arrest.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro denied any contradiction between these statements and the President’s initial announcement. Castro asserted that the President specifically stated Co was in custody due to immigration concerns and did not use the word “arrest.”
However, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) had used the term “arrest” in its April 16 press release. The PCO has since updated that communication, replacing “arrest” with “custody.”
Despite the government’s efforts, Zaldy Co remains a fugitive from justice and has not yet been brought back to the Philippines to face court for the alleged corruption charges.
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