Philippine authorities have lost physical custody of fugitive Zaldy Co after Czech officials confirmed he has left the country, complicating an already difficult pursuit of the alleged flood control corruption mastermind across European borders.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida disclosed the development Tuesday morning Philippine time, hours after meeting with Czech counterparts in Prague.
“Czech authorities have informed us that Mr. Zaldy Co is no longer in their custody,” Vida said.
Despite the setback, the DOJ chief said intelligence places Co somewhere within the 27-nation Schengen zone. “What we can confirm is that he is within the Schengen area. That is the workable intel that we have,” he said.
Vida added that Co appeared to have crossed borders by road. “Definitely he was traveling by land… We got information as to the registry of the vehicle,” he said, stopping short of further detail, citing an ongoing operation. DOJ sources separately told ABS-CBN News that Co was traveling with his son Michael and a Filipino driver.
Co is carrying an expired Philippine passport but holds an active Schengen visa, according to Vida. The Czech Republic is surrounded on all sides by Austria, Germany, Poland, and Slovakia, giving Co multiple land-border exit options.
Attempts to extract more concrete information from Czech officials hit a wall of legal constraints. Prague’s Ministry of Justice repeatedly pointed to European Union data privacy regulations as the basis for withholding details, Vida said.
“We are working across sovereign borders. Every country has its own laws, processes and timelines and we cannot compel a foreign government,” the Justice Secretary said. He added that Czech officials indicated a formal police cooperation agreement — one the Philippines does not currently have with Czechia — would be a prerequisite for sharing further information.
“They are citing Schengen rules and data privacy laws… nung tinanong ko sila kanina, can we seek other information, the answer was we cannot share further information,” Vida said.
The Justice Secretary described his reaction to the information blackout in measured terms. “Frustrated? I would stick to confused,” he said. “I’m confused at the legal parameters where this is coming from.”
Philippine Ambassador to Czech Republic Eduardo Martin Meñez acknowledged the host country’s legal posture. “You need to take the perspective of the Czech government that has placed high interest on the rights of the individual. It’s not just what another government may wish,” the envoy said, adding that coordination with Schengen partners would continue through diplomatic channels.
Manila is now banking on an Interpol red notice as its next viable tool. “Kung may red notice, that serves as an arrest warrant,” Vida said. However, Interpol rules leave implementation at the discretion of each member state. Asked what happens if a country declines to act on such a notice, Vida said the Philippines would “explore for other bilateral or multilateral options.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been briefed on the situation.
Vida maintained the delegation’s trip was not without value, noting that Philippine intelligence resources — including what he described as “validated sources” — remain active in tracking Co’s movements across the continent.
