Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co. House of Representatives

Article (news)

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA – The Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday said it will summon former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co once he returns to the Philippines to explain “matters still under investigation.”</p><p>In a press briefing, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla described Co as a “fugitive from justice,” noting that Philippine courts must acquire jurisdiction over him first.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/21/palace-on-roque-s-claim-that-co-wasn-t-arrested-why-believe-a-fake-news-peddler-1545">Palace on Roque&#x27;s claim that Zaldy Co wasn&#x27;t arrested: &#x27;Why believe a fake news peddler?&#x27;</a></div><p>Asked how Co’s presence in the country would affect the pending cases against him, Remulla said: &quot;The only effect will be – he will be under the jurisdiction of a court.&quot;</p><p>“He can lawyer up. That’s about it. Kung kukuha siya ng abugado, that’s the start of putting forward some defenses,” he said.</p><p>“If he is under our jurisdiction, we will subpoena him to come over, explain matters still under investigation,” he added.</p><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. this week <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">promised</a> to bring the former lawmaker back to the Philippines.</p><p>Marcos last week reported that Co was arrested in the Czech Republic for immigration violations. He said a high-level coordination team would be sent to ensure Co&#x27;s return to the Philippines.</p><p>Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida, for his part, said he was set to fly to the Czech Republic within the week to meet with his counterpart official in Prague for Co’s return.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/21/doj-to-invoke-un-treaty-vs-corruption-to-bring-back-zaldy-co-1512">DOJ to invoke UN treaty vs corruption to bring back Zaldy Co</a></div><p>Vida noted that the Czech Republic and the Philippines are signatories to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, an agreement among various countries for international cooperation to fight global corruption.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</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/C9i4Yw8cwNc??si=VzSaxzkwbONfcnT5&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div>

<p>The Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday said it will summon former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co once he returns to the Philippines to explain “matters still under investigation.”</p>

The Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday said it will summon former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co once he returns to the Philippines to explain “matters still under investigation.”

Ombudsman to summon Zaldy Co once back in PH to explain ‘matters still under investigation’

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Ombudsman to summon Zaldy Co once back in PH to explain ‘matters still under investigation’

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 21, 2026 09:06 PM PHT

Read More:

Ombudsman

Office of the Ombudsman

Zaldy Co

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