Department of Justice (DOJ) Acting Secretary Fredderick A. Vida will be flying to the Czech Republic this week to lead a team to bring back to the Philippines fugitive former congressman Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co.
“I will be leaving very soon within the week,” Vida said during a press briefing on Tuesday, April 21.
Vida also refuted claims that Co has never been arrested by Czech authorities.
“Nais ko pabulaanan na may ibang nagsasabi pa rin wala raw sa kostudiya ng Czech Republic ang accused na si former congressman Zaldy Co (I would to refute those who are saying that Co is not in the custody of the Czech Republic),” said Vida.
“With this press briefing, I do confirm that it’s not a belief, it’s a factual setting na nandoon sa kostudiya ng Czech authorities si ex-congressman Zaldy Co (that Co is indeed in the custody of Czech authorities),” he assured.
Co has been charged with graft and non-bailable malversation of public funds in the P289 million anomalous flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
The Sandiganbayan has ordered Co’s arrest and detention, and has declared him a fugitive from justice.
The arrest warrant could not be served because Co left the Philippines in July 2025 and has not returned since then.
The former congressman is also facing several criminal complaints before the DOJ.
In the same briefing, Vida said he has been instructed by President Marcos to lead a team that will go to the Czech Republic together with members of the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime (PCTC).
“Ang pagbiyahe ng Secretary of Justice ay pagpapakita at pagpapatunay kung gaaano kasidhi ang kagustuhan na mapabalik s’ya (the trip of the Secretary of Justice is proof that the government is serious in bringing back Co),” he also said.
Vida said he met with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro “so that your Secretary of Justice will be properly guided on how to deal with this, to understand the lay of the land in the Czech Republic so that we don’t make missteps kasi very delicate ito (because this is a delicate matter).”
“The Philippine government is exploring all available legal processes to bring him back,” he assured.
He said the top option is the deportation of Co and another option is the extradition of the fugitive former congressman.
He cited that the Philippines and the Czech Republic are among the signatory countries to the United Nations (UN) Convention Against Corruption.
This means that the Czech Republic will not condone corruption and will not allow a person involved to get away just because he is in another country, he said.
Vida reminded that Co has three arrest warrants issued by the Sandiganbayan.
