ZALDY CO NO LONGER IN CZECH CUSTODY, NOW IN FRANCE SEEKING POLITICAL ASYLUM — PALACE

MALACAÑANG on Tuesday said the Philippine government will coordinate with foreign counterparts to facilitate the return of fugitive and former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co to the country so he may face charges related to the alleged ghost flood-control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“Nananatiling matatag ang posisyon ng pamahalaan. We will work with foreign governments through every legal channel available, under international laws, to bring Zaldy Co home and face the graft and malversation cases filed against him,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a Palace press briefing.

“Gagawin natin ang lahat ng naaayon sa batas at sa diplomatikong proseso,” Castro added.

Malacañang on Tuesday confirmed that fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co is no longer under the custody of the Czech Republic and is now in France where he is seeking political asylum.

“The DFA has received highly reliable information that Zaldy Co has a pending petition for political asylum in France,” the Palace Press Officer said.

Co is facing charges of corruption and malversation of public funds in connection with alleged ghost flood-control projects.

Castro said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is also set to meet with officials of France and the Czech Republic at the Palace as part of ongoing diplomatic engagements on the matter.

“Sa ating pagkakaalam ay magkakaroon sila ng pag-uusap. Si Pangulo po ay makikipag-usap sa Ambassador of France bukas ng hapon. At sa ating pagkakaalam, ang ambassador ng Czech Republic ay wala sa Pilipinas, kaya iniimbitahan din po ng Pangulo ang chargé d’affaires,” she noted.

Castro said that Malacañang received information from Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Fredderick Vida and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro about Co.

“Ngayong umaga (Tuesday) natanggap na ng Malacañang ang kumpletong ulat mula kay Justice Secretary Vida at Foreign Affairs Secretary Lazaro kaugnay ng kalagayan ni Zaldy Co. Batay sa kanilang high-level engagements sa mga opisyal ng Czech Republic at sa mga kinatawan ng European Union, malinaw na ang mga hakbang na ginagawa ay nakaangkla sa paggalang sa umiiral na mga batas ng EU at ng kani-kanilang member-states,” she added.

Castro said such matters require intensive diplomatic processes and coordination at the highest levels.

“Sa kasalukuyan, kumpirmadong wala na sa kustodiya ng Czech authorities si Zaldy Co…All missions in Europe have been instructed to obtain further official confirmation,” the Malacañang official said.

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