Rowegie Abanto

Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co. House of Representatives

Article (news)

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/177734699194720251114-ako-bicol-rep-zaldy-co-HOR.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Zaldy Co. <em>House of Representatives/File</em></span></span></span>MANILA — The release of former lawmaker-turned-fugitive Zaldy Co from the custody of Czech Republic authorities is a &quot;temporary setback&quot; for the Philippine government, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said Tuesday.</div><p>The Department of Justice early Tuesday said Co had left the Czech Republic but also confirmed that he was still within the Schengen area.</p><p>The development came a week after Philippine authorities said Co, one of the key personalities allegedly behind the massive flood control corruption scandal, was under Czechia&#x27;s jurisdiction.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/28/doj-says-zaldy-co-is-no-longer-under-czech-custody-0011">DOJ: Zaldy Co no longer in Czechia, still in Schengen area</a></div><p>&quot;It&#x27;s a temporary setback, I believe, and government should already inform and work with Interpol so that Interpol will ready issue a red notice because obviously there&#x27;s a warrant of arrest for him. And so that Interpol can ready use their network to apprehend him,&quot; Gatchalian told ANC.</p><p>Under Interpol regulations, member countries have the discretion on whether they would implement an arrest based on a red notice.</p><p>&quot;I think at this point it&#x27;s better to work with the Interpol because the Interpol has a wider network. We have built goodwill with Interpol, [and] we have worked with Interpol on many fronts. A case in point will be the Alice Guo case, wherein the Interpol was used to apprehend her,&quot; he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2026/4/27/palace-defends-marcos-remarks-on-zaldy-co-says-nahuli-not-the-same-as-arrested-1434">Palace defends Marcos remarks on Zaldy Co, says ‘nahuli’ different from ‘arrested’</a></div><p>The case of Co showed that international law is &quot;very complicated,&quot; Gatchalian said, noting that &quot;there are things we can&#x27;t control because of sovereignty and jurisdictional issue.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Apparently, when Zaldy Co was intercepted, he has various documents, and from what I understand, he also has a different nationality, resident visa of another country. That enabled him to move around freely in Europe which is very porous,&quot; he said.</p><p>The government cancelled Co&#x27;s Philippine passport in December.</p><p>Co was charged alongside a number of public works officials and construction firm owners in November, accused of violating the country&#x27;s anti-graft law over a flood control project in the central Philippines.</p><p>Sen. JV Ejercito agreed that the release of Co from Czech custody was a “big blow” and “setback” to the flood control probe.  </p><p>He conceded that bringing Co back was a challenge, adding that the embassy in that country should have been the one to give information on his status before Philippine officials flew to the Czech Republic.</p><p>&quot;Dapat sila yung nagsabi una na nandoon pa or gave the information on whether he is in custody or not bago nagtulak doon,&quot; he said.   </p><p>Ejercito emphasized the importance of taking Co into custody. </p><p>&quot;Kung ano yung participation, sino yung mga kasama…kailangan talagang may managot dito. Hindi pwedeng makaligtas kasi pera ng taong bayan &#x27;to. Yung galit ay hindi mawawala. Hindi mo rin masisisi ang taong bayan kapag walang naparusahan dito,&quot; he said.</p><div><strong>—With reports from RG Cruz, Katrina Domingo and Rose Carmelle Lacuata, ABS-CBN News; Agence France Presse</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS: </strong><strong></strong><br/></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/3QGzhsqhuX8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></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/RRa9jN7pm1U?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The release of former lawmaker-turned-fugitive Zaldy Co from the custody of Czech Republic authorities is a "temporary setback" for the Philippine government, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said Tuesday.</p>

The release of former lawmaker-turned-fugitive Zaldy Co from the custody of Czech Republic authorities is a "temporary setback" for the Philippine government, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said Tuesday.

Zaldy Co's exit from Czech Republic a ‘temporary setback’ — senator

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Zaldy Co's exit from Czech Republic a ‘temporary setback’ — senator

ABS-CBN News

Published April 28, 2026 11:40 AM PHT

|

Updated April 28, 2026 04:04 PM PHT

Read More:

Zaldy Co

Czech Republic

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.