MANILA, Philippines — Former Representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, the fugitive ex-lawmaker captured in the Czech Republic after nine months on the run, is expected to be deported back to the Philippines within one to three weeks.
In a radio interview on Friday, April 17, 2026, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla provided an update on the coordination between the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Czech authorities following the high-profile arrest in Prague.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. officially announced Co’s capture on Thursday evening, revealing that the former lawmaker had been detained after crossing into the Czech Republic without proper documentation.
- Lack of Documents: Remulla explained that Co’s arrest was simplified because he was not carrying any travel documents, including a rumored Portuguese passport. “It’s like he became complacent,” Remulla noted.
- Lead Agency: While the DILG is coordinating, the DFA remains the lead agency for the formal deportation process. The timeline for his return depends on how quickly the legal paperwork is processed in Prague.
Co, once the powerful chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, is a central figure in what has been described as a trillion-peso flood control and infrastructure scandal.
- Pending Warrants: The Sandiganbayan issued arrest warrants for Co in November 2025 related to graft and malversation charges involving a ₱289.4-million road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
- Health and Fitness: Upon his arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Co will be taken directly to Camp Crame for a comprehensive physical examination. This will determine his medical fitness to stand trial.
- Arraignment: Following the medical check, he will be turned over to the Sandiganbayan for his formal arraignment, where the court will also rule on whether the charges against him are bailable.
Zaldy Co’s flight from justice began in July 2025, when he left the country citing a need for medical treatment in the United States. He was later declared a fugitive after failing to submit to the jurisdiction of Philippine courts.
His return is seen as a major victory for the administration’s anti-corruption drive, particularly as it seeks to resolve the massive discrepancies found in the 2025 national budget allocations for flood control. As Remulla concluded, the government is committed to ensuring that all legal processes are followed to bring the former lawmaker before the bar of justice “at the soonest possible time.”