Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

A screengrab from a video released by former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co implicating President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the insertion of P100-B worth of projects in the General Appropriations Act (GAA). Courtesy of Zaldy Co

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177673307953420260420110432_531083fe64ff3c029785db91a3aea3aa0ce9d52540b7e19197f5a982d563d131.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A screengrab from a video released by former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co implicating President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the insertion of P100-B worth of projects in the General Appropriations Act (GAA). <em>Courtesy of Zaldy Co</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATE) </strong>— Authorities in the Czech Republic have yet to release official details regarding the reported arrest of former congressman Zaldy Co near the German-Czech border last week. </p><p>While President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed that the former lawmaker was apprehended last week due to a lack of valid travel documents, local Czech agencies remain tight-lipped, citing strict European privacy regulations.</p><p>According to a police officer from the Czech Police Presidium, the case is being handled by the Czech Ministry of Justice.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/20/marcos-says-coordinating-with-czech-republic-for-zaldy-co-s-return-1114">READ: Marcos vows to bring Zaldy Co home</a></div><p>The development follows earlier reports that Co was apprehended in Europe, although specifics surrounding the circumstances of his arrest, possible charges, and legal proceedings remain unclear as of writing.</p><p>Co, a former representative of the 1st District of Negros Occidental, has been previously linked to investigations in the flood-control ghost projects in the Philippines. </p><p>He later went into hiding and began releasing videos, which he said proved that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself was the mastermind behind the corruption.<strong> </strong></p><p>The former congressman has been declared a fugitive by both the Sandiganbayan and the Supreme Court. He is facing multiple charges of graft and malversation in connection with alleged anomalies involving government flood control projects.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;WE CANNOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>ABS-CBN News reached out to the Ministry of Justice in Prague for clarification on the case. </p><p>In an email response, Mgr. Lucie Rozsypalová of the Ministry’s Communications Department stated: &quot;At this moment, we are in contact with the Ministry of the Interior and the Police of the Czech Republic. Until the current status of the case is verified, we cannot provide any information.&quot;</p><p>A representative from the Czech Police Presidium explained that they are constrained from disclosing details as it would violate European law. </p><p>European data protection rules strictly safeguard the privacy of criminals, suspects, and victims, aiming to balance public safety with individual rights.</p><p>Despite attempts by ABS-CBN News to seek further comment at both the police headquarters and the Ministry of Justice in Prague, both agencies maintained their silence regarding Co’s status.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FILIPINO COMMUNITY DEMANDS JUSTICE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The development has sparked strong reactions among Filipinos living in Prague, many of whom are calling for Co’s immediate repatriation to face his pending cases in the Philippines.</p><p>&quot;We want justice! We want answers from him!&quot; said a Filipina who has resided in Prague for 18 years. She expressed an expectation for swift action from the Philippine government to address the corruption allegations surrounding the flood control projects.</p><p>Other Filipinos in the area, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, echoed these sentiments. They urged the Philippine judicial system to ensure that Co and his alleged cohorts are given the maximum penalty, asserting that such accountability is necessary to deliver justice to the Filipino people.</p><p>As of this writing, there has been no further update on Co’s detention status or his potential repatriation to the Philippines.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CTz8aDj5HNQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oEI1-1xa32k?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Authorities in the Czech Republic have yet to release official details regarding the reported arrest of former congressman Zaldy Co near the German-Czech border last week.</p>

Authorities in the Czech Republic have yet to release official details regarding the reported arrest of former congressman Zaldy Co near the German-Czech border last week.

Czech police remain mum on Zaldy Co's arrest

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Czech police remain mum on Zaldy Co's arrest

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen,

ABS-CBN News,

with reports from Aimee Hilger

Published April 20, 2026 06:42 PM PHT

|

Updated April 21, 2026 09:02 AM PHT

Read More:

Zaldy Co

Czech Republic

Flood Control

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

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