Former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co is no longer under Czech custody and is now within the Schengen area, Justice Secretary Frederick Vida said, calling the development “difficult news.”
“Czech authorities have informed us that Mr. Zaldy Co is no longer in their custody,” Vida said after meeting officials in Prague. “What we can confirm is that he is within the Schengen area. That is the workable intel that we have.”
Vida said Co was traveling by land and that authorities have information on the vehicle used, but declined to disclose details, citing an ongoing operation. He added that the government is working with “all listening posts available” and has obtained additional validated intelligence while maintaining coordination with foreign counterparts. Co was also using an expired Philippine passport with an active Schengen visa, he said.
Efforts to gather more information from Czech authorities have been limited by European Union data privacy rules and the absence of a police cooperation agreement between the Philippines and the Czech Republic. “We are working across sovereign borders. Every country has its own laws, processes and timelines and we cannot compel a foreign government,” Vida said.
Department of Justice sources said Co had been traveling with his son and a Filipino driver. Philippine Ambassador to the Czech Republic Eduardo Martin Meñez said coordination with European partners will continue, noting the emphasis on individual rights under local laws.
The Philippine government is now pursuing an Interpol red notice to facilitate Co’s arrest. Vida said enforcement remains subject to the discretion of member states, with other bilateral and multilateral options also being explored.
Earlier this month, President Bongbong Marcos said Co had been detained in Prague as authorities moved to secure his return.
