Manila, Philippines — Amid the still unresolved flood control scandal, resigned Ako Bicol Partylist representative Zaldy Co remains at the center of the controversy, given his supposed role as the former House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson in allowing insertions in the national budget.
Since his name was implicated in the controversy, Co remained silent and detached from the law, refusing to return to the Philippines.
He only broke his silence through series of videos supposedly telling the truth behind the scheme, also accusing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as the mastermind of the budget insertions.
And in the almost 8 months of hiding, there were almost no clear leads on his whereabouts aside from that he is in Portugal using a portuguese passport. The Philippine has no extradition treaty with the said country.
Amidst the public’s criticisms over the government forgetting the flood control issue, Marcos announced last week that Co was apprehended in the Czech Republic border.
Marcos noted that Co was arrested after attempting to cross Czech Republic without travel documents, given that his Philippine passport has been cancelled.
He said that Co is currently detained in Czech Republic with Philippine authorities in coordination with the said country.
In a new video, Marcos reaffirmed Co’s detention.
The president noted that there are legal process in an extradition proceeding, but assured that Co will be brought home to face the allegations against him.
Aside from Marcos, there were still no direct confirmation of Co’s arrest from the Department of Foreign Affairs and from the Embassy of the Philippines in Czech Republic.
Only the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Philippine National Police have released a comment over the matter.
On the other hand, presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque warned the public that Co’s arrest is fake news.
Roque said that Co also has an accountability over the issue, but said that he is glad that he is not actually arrested as he may be a big witness in the flood control scandal.—Mia Layaguin, Eurotv News