Jamaine Punzalan

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)

Article (news)

Job Manahan

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/177700445266220260424030444_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. <em>Courtesy of Zaldy Co</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE) </strong>— The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday said former lawmaker Zaldy Co was “not technically arrested” but &quot;his liberty was restrained” in the Czech Republic. </p><p>Justice Spokesperson Polo Martinez clarified to reporters that Co remained within Czech Republic’s “jurisdiction.” He did not directly answer, though, if Co had been released or was still being held by authorities. </p><p>“For analogy, it’s similar to a situation in the airport where the person arrives and immigration denies entry or excludes the person. Technically, not arrested but there is a deprivation of liberty to a certain degree,” Martinez told reporters in a text message. </p><p>The justice official said that an “official law enforcement action” took place in Czechia last week. </p><p>“This fact was wholly ascertained and remains undisputed,” he said.</p><p>“Latest report we have is [that] he is still within the jurisdiction of Czech authorities,” he added. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;NO CONTRADICTION&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>In a statement, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said there was no contradiction between the DOJ&#x27;s latest pronouncement and President Ferdinand Marco, Jr.&#x27;s announcement last week.</p><p>&quot;Maliwanag ang sinabi ng Pangulo at ni SOJ Vida. Walang anumang contradiction. Hindi nanggaling sa Pangulo ang salitang &#x27;aresto.&#x27; Ang sabi ng Pangulo ay nasa kustodiya ng Czech Republic si Zaldy Co dahil sa kakulangan sa proper documentation. Nahuli si Zaldy Co due to immigration concerns.&quot; Castro explained.</p><p>Last week, Marcos announced that Co, a central figure in the multibillion-peso flood control scandal, was &quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/16/zaldy-co-arrested-detained-in-prague-2155">detained in Prague</a> after crossing into the Czech Republic without proper documentation and is currently in the custody of Czech authorities.”</p><p>A Philippine delegation composed of DOJ and foreign affairs officials, among others, flew to Prague on Thursday to explore options to return Co, the timeline for which remained indefinite.</p><p>“We cannot provide a timeline, we cannot say, it will depend entirely on what the Czech Republic, how the Czech Republic is willing to accommodate with respect sa kanilang batas,” Martinez said in an interview on Thursday. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/17/zaldy-co-may-be-back-in-ph-in-1-3-weeks-remulla-0723">Zaldy Co back in PH in &#x27;1-3 weeks&#x27;: Remulla</a></div><p>Despite the absence of a clear timeline for the former lawmaker’s return, he noted the openness of Czechia to dialogue</p><p>Co quit the House of Representatives in September after he was tagged in the flood control scandal. He later went into hiding and began releasing videos he said proved Marcos himself was the mastermind behind the corruption.</p><p>Marcos has consistently denied any connection to the scandal, noting it was he who brought the issue center state in a national address.</p><div><strong>— With reports from Job Manahan and Harlene Delgado, ABS-CBN News; Agence France-Presse </strong></div><div><br/><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/-2Jit21ShGo?&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/ukX7EbaR3AI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Former lawmaker Zaldy Co remained “within the jurisdiction of Czech authorities”, the Department of Justice said Friday.</p>

Former lawmaker Zaldy Co remained “within the jurisdiction of Czech authorities”, the Department of Justice said Friday.

DOJ: Zaldy Co 'not technically arrested' but his 'liberty was restrained'

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DOJ: Zaldy Co 'not technically arrested' but his 'liberty was restrained'

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 24, 2026 10:46 AM PHT

|

Updated April 24, 2026 12:21 PM PHT

Read More:

corruption

flood control

Zaldy Co

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