President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has committed to repatriating fugitive former Ilocos Norte representative Zaldy Co from the Czech Republic, where Co was reported arrested last week on immigration violations.
Speaking in a video message, Marcos said Co remains in Czech custody and that his administration is taking all necessary steps to secure his return. He ordered both the Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs to lead coordination with Czech authorities.
“Inutusan ko ang Department of Justice kasama ang Department of Foreign Affairs na pangunahan ang pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga autoridad ng Czech Republic upang matiyak na maayos at naaayon na proseso ang lahat ng kinakailangan,” the President said.
A high-level coordination team will be dispatched to facilitate the process, Marcos added, though he acknowledged the transfer would take time given the legal protocols governing extradition and cross-border proceedings between countries.
“Ang ganitong mga proseso ay may sinusunod na mga legal na hakbang sa pagitan ng mga bansa. Kaya’t nangangailangan ng sapat na panahon upang maisagawa nang tama,” he said.
The President closed with a firm public declaration: “We will bring Zaldy Co home, and we will do so in accordance with the law. He will answer to the Filipino people.”
The announcement, however, has drawn skepticism. Lawyer and Marcos critic Harry Roque issued multiple video statements disputing the claim that Co had been arrested at all. The Philippine government has yet to release any photo or video confirming Co’s detention in the Czech Republic, and Czech authorities — including the Czech Embassy in Manila — have not made any public statement on the matter.
Co resigned from the House of Representatives in September following his involvement in a corruption scandal. He subsequently disappeared from public view and began releasing videos in which he claimed Marcos himself was the architect of the scheme. Marcos has denied any involvement, pointing to the fact that he was the one who elevated the issue in a national address.
