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Ghio Ong - The Philippine Star
April 24, 2026 | 12:00am
Rep. Zaldy Co (Ako Bicol party-list).
HREP photo
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has assured the public that it would report on the progress of its upcoming talks with authorities in the Czech Republic on arranging former congressman Zaldy Co’s release from custody and his return to the Philippines to face corruption charges in connection with the flood control scam.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida and Chief State Counsel Dennis Chan, along with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime, departed yesterday for Prague to “open formal dialogue with our Czech counterparts and to explore all available legal avenues for Co’s return to the Philippines to face the charges pending against him before the Sandiganbayan,” DOJ spokesman Polo Martinez said.
“I think the fact that Czech Republic is open to dialog is very telling,” said Martinez.
He emphasized that the Philippine government would “properly respect domestic laws, judicial processes, and data privacy regulations of a sovereign state” such as the Czech Republic, and it may take time to disclose to the public the possible outcome of their discussions. He added the Philippines has no extradition treaty with Czech Republic at present.
“We wish to remind the public that while the government is committed to pursuing every legitimate legal remedy, the timeline and modality of Co’s return remain subject to ongoing discussions and the applicable processes under Czech and international law,” he said.
Aside from extradition, Martinez said Philippine and Czech authorities may explore having Co deported to the country, or invoking the United Nations Convention Against Corruption where both countries are signatories.
He maintained it would be “not prudent for the Philippines to impose its laws upon a different sovereign nation’s laws.”
Malacañang, meanwhile, is optimistic of seeing Co brought back to the Philippines to face justice.
“When we are only talking about the Philippines, definitely, we are confident. SInce there is another country involved, let us hope that Zaldy Co would be brought back immediately to our country,” Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said at a briefing yesterday.
Co, the former head of the House appropriations committee and erstwhile representative of Ako Bicol party-list, is facing an arrest warrant for alleged malversation of public funds and graft over a questionable road dike in Oriental Mindoro worth P289.5 million. — Alexis Romero
