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)

Jervis 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/177736587408520251114-ako-bicol-rep-zaldy-co-HOR.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co. House of Representatives/File" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co. <em>House of Representatives/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>2nd UPDATE</strong>) -- Ex-lawmaker turned fugitive Zaldy Co is now seeking political asylum in France, the Palace confirmed on Tuesday.</p><p>This comes after the Philippine delegation in Prague confirmed that Co was no longer under the custody of Czech authorities.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/28/doj-says-zaldy-co-is-no-longer-under-czech-custody-0011">READ: Zaldy Co no longer in Czechia, still in Schengen area -- DOJ</a></div><p>&quot;The DFA has received highly-reliable information that Zaldy Co has a pending petition for political asylum in France. He has been requested to be transferred to and is now under the jurisdiction of French authorities,&quot; Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a briefing on Tuesday.</p><p>&quot;All missions in Europe have been instructed to obtain further official confirmation,&quot; she added.</p><p>In a statement, the DFA clarified that it had cancelled Co&#x27;s regular and diplomatic passport after a court order in December 2025. The cancellation of those passports was reported to Interpol. </p><p>&quot;With regard to his other regular passport which expired in September 2022 and which may have been used by Mr. Co to cross to Germany from the Czech Republic, this need not be cancelled since its expiration rendered it unusable for international travel,&quot; the agency added.</p><p>Castro further clarified that the ex-lawmaker is currently in France but is not detained.</p><p>&quot;Nasa France na po siya, dahil po doon siya nag-file ng asylum at hiniling ng bansang France na dalhin si Zaldy Co,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Hindi po sya nakakulong, kailangan lang po syang dalhin doon dahil meron syang pending petition for asylum,&quot; Castro added.</p><p>The Palace Press Officer said Co applied for asylum because of political persecution, but the timeline as to when he applied for asylum remains unclear as of the moment.</p><p>Castro says the Palace received Secretary of Justice Fredderick Vida&#x27;s complete report about Co&#x27;s status earlier this morning. </p><p>&quot;Nananatiling matatag ang posisyon ng pamahalaan, we will work with foreign governments through every legal channel available under international laws to bring Zaldy Co home and face the graft and malversation cases filed against him. Gagawin natin ang lahat ng naaayon sa batas at sa diplomatikong proseso,&quot; the Palace official said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MARCOS DISAPPOINTED</strong> </div><p>Castro said that President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., who earlier announced Co&#x27;s capture, was disappointed when he learned that the former solon was no longer under custody of Czech authorities.</p><p>&quot;Sinabi niya na disappointed siya, dahil malapit na sana natin napauwi si Zaldy Co pero dahil may ibang bansang involved, at ang lumalabas ang kanyang naviolate ay paggamit ng invalid documentation, ang bansang Czech Republic ang mag-uutos kung anong gagawin kay Zaldy Co,&quot; Castro said.</p><p>However, Castro believes Marcos has no reason to apologize to the public.</p><p>&quot;Saan po sya dapat mag-apologize? Lahat naman po tayo ay umasa. Lahat naman po ng dapat gawin ay ginawa ng Pangulo at ng administrasyon. Ang kanyang inireport ay tama. So wala po tayong nakikita na masasabing pagkakamali ng Pangulo dahil hindi po ito tinulugan ng Pangulo.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/28/zaldy-co-leaving-czech-custody-a-temporary-setback-says-gatchalian-1140">READ: Zaldy Co&#x27;s exit from Czech Republic a ‘temporary setback’ — senator</a></div><p>Castro maintained that all possible efforts have been done to bring Zaldy Co home.</p><p>&quot;Unang-una po, hindi po isinawalang-bahala ng pamahalaan. Noong malaman natin, nang malaman ng Pangulo at ng gobyerno na nasa kustodiya ng Czech authorities si Zaldy Co, agad pong pinaalam ito sa inyo. Alam po at agad pong nagtrabaho at pinapunta ang ating mga high-level officials doon,&quot; Castro said.</p><p>&quot;Nagkataon lamang po na mayroong batas na sinusunod din po ang Czech Republic dahil wala pong nalabag na batas si Zaldy Co sa Czech Republic. Ang tangi lamang pong nag-issue kung bakit siya po ay na-hold at siya po ay nailagay sa kustodiya ng Czech Republic ay dahil sa invalid documentation,&quot; she added.</p><p>Marcos is also expected to meet with the French and Czech ambassadors on Wednesday to talk about the status of Co.</p><p>&quot;Bukas po ay magkakaroon ng pagpupulong, pinatawag po ng ating Pangulo ang Ambassador ng France at pati ang Ambassador ng Czech Republic or chargé d&#x27;affaires at para mapag-usapan kung anong pagkukulang, kung anong dapat na ginawa at ano iyong dapat na maaari pang gawin para maibalik si Zaldy Co dito sa ating bansa,&quot; Castro said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>JONVIC&#x27;S APOLOGY</strong></div><p>The Palace also distanced itself from the earlier apology of DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who took responsibility for 1-3 week timeline in bringing Co home.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/28/dilg-chief-remulla-sorry-for-zaldy-co-blunder-1552">READ: DILG chief Remulla sorry for Zaldy Co blunder</a></div><p>&quot;Iyong sinabi po ni Secretary Jonvic na maaaring maiuwi in two to three weeks galing lamang po ito kay Secretary Jonvic Remulla hindi po ito pronouncement ng Pangulo at hindi rin po ito pronouncement ng Palasyo,&quot; Castro said.</p><p>&quot;At kung siya po ay nag-apologize for that for doing or for saying that matatanggap naman po ng lahat dahil nakita po natin ang sitwasyon pero muli hindi po galing kay Pangulo ang opinyon na ibinigay ni Secretary Jonvic Remulla,&quot; she added.</p><p>Castro said Marcos is not blaming anyone for the turn of events since Co was reportedly held in Prague.</p><p>&quot;Ang Pangulo po ay satisfied naman po sa ginawa ng lahat ng mga opisyal na patungkol dito na nais natin sa pagpapauwi ni Zaldy Co. Wala po siyang sinisisi dahil lahat po talaga ay nagtrabaho nang maayos,&quot; she said.</p><p>The Palace also shunned calls to publicize the costs incurred for the Philippine delegation&#x27;s trip to Czech Republic.</p><p>&quot;Hindi naman po nagpunta doon ang ating mga opisyal para magbakasyon. Pinunta po nila doon ay trabaho para po sa kondisyon at kalagayan ni Zaldy Co. Kung anuman po ang nagastos dito, ito po ay trabaho ng gobyerno – maaari po itong makita sa COA,&quot; Castro said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><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/eerj1zP-RRc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Former lawmaker-turned-fugitive Zaldy Co has applied for political asylum in France, Malacanang confirmed Tuesday. </p>

Former lawmaker-turned-fugitive Zaldy Co has applied for political asylum in France, Malacanang confirmed Tuesday.

Zaldy Co seeking asylum in France; Marcos 'disappointed'—Palace

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Zaldy Co seeking asylum in France; Marcos 'disappointed'—Palace

Jamaine Punzalan,

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 28, 2026 03:40 PM PHT

|

Updated April 28, 2026 05:17 PM PHT

Read More:

Zaldy Co

flood control

Ferdinand Marcos Jr

Jonvic Remulla

France

Prague

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