ZALDY CO ARRESTED IN PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC

FUGITIVE  former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co was arrested in Prague, Czech Republic, Malacañang confirmed Thursday.

Co was nabbed for alleged illegal entry in Prague.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Acting Secretary Dave Gomez said the Philippine authorities are coordinating with Czech authorities to arrange Co’s return to the Philippines.

“We confirm that Zaldy Co was detained in Prague for crossing into the Czech Republic without proper documentation. He is presently in Czech custody,”  Gomez said in a statement.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. also announced  the former lawmaker’s arrest in a social media post.

“We are in close coordination with the Czech government to ensure that all legal processes are followed and to arrange for his return to the Philippines at the soonest possible time. We will keep the public informed as developments unfold,” said the President on a Facebook post.

Co, former chair of the House Committee on Appropriations that oversees the national budget, had earlier been linked to alleged irregularities involving flood control projects

He has been in hiding since mid-2025, even before the formal investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control projects started.

In November 2025, the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant of arrest against Co over charges of graft and malversation of public funds linked to a P289.5-million road dike project along the Mag-asawang Tubig River in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

The warrant also covered at least 15 other individuals, including officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and a private construction firm.

Co was declared a fugitive from justice after failing to submit to the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan, which issued arrest warrants against him and several others linked to the Naujan million road dike project