By Tracy Cabrera
DILIMAN, Quezon City — Despite the option of deportation or extradition, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla Jr. expressed confidence that fugitive former Ako Bicol party-list representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co will return to the Philippines within one to three weeks.
Co, a key figure in the controversial flood control scandal, was arrested in Prague by Czech authorities after allegedly attempting to cross into Germany but was intercepted and sent back to his point of origin.
According to Remulla, the former lawmaker could be back in the country “maybe as little as one week, but as long as three weeks, depending on the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs).”
With a hint of concern, he referred to DFA officials as “the elite here, not me—I’m just in coordination.”
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. earlier announced on Thursday night, April 16, that Co was apprehended in Czechia after being found without proper travel documents.
Remulla said complications could arise in bringing Co home, noting that the deportation order is tied to a canceled passport. He added that despite international efforts to locate him, the former solon appeared unbothered and was reportedly traveling without valid documents.
Co is believed to have been moving across countries, as he could not stay long in Portugal, where he is reportedly holding a “gold” passport and had previously been in hiding.
“His last sighting was in Italy three weeks ago. Now, he was caught in the Czech Republic,” Remulla said, adding that once Co returns to the country, he will be brought to his arraignment before the Sandiganbayan, which issued the warrants for his arrest. He will then be detained at Camp Crame.
Co faces multiple criminal charges, including graft and malversation of public funds, in connection with a P289.5-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.
Meanwhile, legal experts have noted that Co’s return to the Philippines could potentially be delayed if he seeks political asylum.
Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles and Atty. Barry Gutierrez said documentation issues could lead to deportation proceedings following his arrest in the Czech Republic, while extradition remains unlikely due to the absence of a treaty and the pending Interpol red notice.
They added that Co could further delay repatriation by seeking asylum—complicated by his reported Portuguese passport—while Zia Alonto Adiong suggested he may have been attempting to use legal avenues to make his return more difficult.
ia/xf
