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)

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla claimed Friday that former lawmaker Zaldy Co was staying at a luxury home in France while his<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/28/palace-zaldy-co-seeking-asylum-in-france-1540"> asylum request</a> was being processed. </p><p>Remulla said there were ongoing conversations between Philippine and French authorities regarding the matter.</p><p>“He has a house in Champs-Élysées na 10 bedrooms na malapit sa Christian Dior. Ganto&#x27;ng laki ‘yung taas mung mga ceiling ng 10 bedrooms. Probably worth maybe 200 million dollars, euros, ‘yung isang bahay na ganun,” Remulla said at the Kapihan ng Samahang Plaridel. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/4/ph-embassy-in-france-says-cannot-act-against-host-nation-s-sovereignty-1655">PH Embassy in France says cannot act against host nation’s sovereignty</a></div><p>Despite the asylum bid, Remulla said the application has minimal impact on the government’s pursuit of Co, who was accused of facilitating budget insertions tied to flood control anomalies. </p><p>“Kaka-apply niya lang last week ng political asylum. The red notice has been, six months ago na kami nag-apply. But it&#x27;s nothing, it&#x27;s not related to the two. Walang kinalaman ‘yan,” he said. </p><p>The Philippines applied for an <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/7/dilg-interpol-red-notice-vs-zaldy-co-may-be-out-soon-1226">Interpol red notice </a>in September 2025, but approval from Interpol’s office has yet to be granted.</p><p>“It turns out, iba pala ang batas sa Pilipinas sa Interpol. Basta doon may political inkling na konti ay dini-delay nila. But I&#x27;m confident we&#x27;ll get the red notice and I&#x27;m confident we&#x27;re going to get Zaldy Co back here to the Philippines,” he said. </p><p>The interior chief said the government hopes to secure Co’s return before the completion of his asylum application, which typically takes about six months.</p><p>“Kung pwede lang lumuhod na ako sa harap ng Interpol para makuha ‘yun, gagawin ko. Kinausap ko na ‘yung Vice President ng Interpol. ‘Yung chairman, hindi pa. We&#x27;re trying our best. They&#x27;re reviewing the matter,” Remulla said. </p><div><strong>PREVIOUS PRAGUE DETENTION </strong></div><p>The DILG chief also revealed that he personally informed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that Co had been briefly detained in Prague, based on previous information from the Bureau of Immigration.</p><p>According to Remulla, Co was intercepted while attempting to cross into Germany and was held for about 36 hours before being released after roughly three days.</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>“I was the one who informed the president of his capture. Papasok siya ng Germany nung na-detain siya. Dinala siya sa Prague. And after, I think, 72 hours, napakawalan siya,” Remulla said. </p><p>The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Justice later took the lead in handling the case, he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/28/dilg-chief-remulla-sorry-for-zaldy-co-blunder-1552">DILG chief Remulla sorry for Zaldy Co blunder </a></div><p>Authorities previously believed Co held a Portuguese passport, but Remulla clarified that he only had a visa, prompting his asylum application in France.</p><p>Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte believes former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Co should tell the truth if they are truly interested in attaining justice not only for themselves but for the public over the flood control fiasco.</p><p>She said this in response to a supporter in an interview in The Hague, the Netherlands, following her visit to her father on May 7. Sara Duterte was asked for her comment on Romualdez and Co allegedly tagged by the Ombudsman as &quot;masterminds&quot; of the flood control anomalies.</p><p>“Iba naman ang sinasabi ni Martin Romualdez at ni Zaldy Co. Kung totoo talaga na interesado si Zaldy Co at si Martin Romualdez sa hustisya, hindi lang para sa kanilang sarili, kundi para na sa taong bayan at sa Pilipinas, dapat sabihin nila kung ano totoo,” the Vice President said.</p><p>—With a report from Harlene Delgado, ABS-CBN News</p><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/2t-6rkCsSys?&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/zVX18TnlB6Q?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla claimed Friday that former lawmaker Zaldy Co was staying at a luxury home in France while his asylum request was being processed.</p>

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla claimed Friday that former lawmaker Zaldy Co was staying at a luxury home in France while his asylum request was being processed.

Remulla: Zaldy Co staying at luxury home in Paris

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Remulla: Zaldy Co staying at luxury home in Paris

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 08, 2026 03:00 PM PHT

|

Updated May 08, 2026 04:15 PM PHT

Read More:

DILG

Zaldy Co

red notice

political asylum

France

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