DILG chief: Co deportation to PH might still take 1 to 3 weeks
It may take up to three weeks before Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, the fugitive former lawmaker at the center of the trillion-peso public works corruption scandal, can be flown back to the Philippines after his arrest in the Czech Republic, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Friday.
Remulla said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is coordinating with Czech authorities for the deportation of Co, who was detained in Prague Thursday for lacking proper travel documents.
The former lawmaker, who once headed the powerful House appropriations committee in the 19th Congress from July 2022 until his removal in January 2025, had his passport canceled after being declared a fugitive by the court.
He is facing graft charges at the Sandiganbayan over his alleged ties to a company that built a substandard flood control project in Oriental Mindoro province.
“Maybe in as little as one week, but it could take as long as three weeks. That depends on the DFA—they’re really the lead on this, not me; I’m just coordinating,” Remulla said in an interview on dzMM.
In an update posted on X on Friday, President Marcos said Co, a former representative of Ako Bicol party list, was held at the German border after crossing in from the Czech Republic.
“The latest information confirms that Zaldy Co was stopped at the German border after entering from the Czech Republic. He was denied entry and returned to Czech authorities, where he remains in custody,” the President said.
Mr. Marcos, who announced on Thursday night that Co was captured in Prague, said the Philippine government has since been in touch with Czech authorities.
Remulla attributed Co’s arrest to a minor “complication.”
“(His) deportation order is based on a canceled [Philippine] passport; he didn’t have his Portuguese passport with him. He wasn’t carrying anything … it’s like he became complacent. So when he was arrested there, it was noted that he had no travel documents. The DFA informed [Czech authorities] that he was a wanted person [in the Philippines],” Remulla said.
Passport cancellation
Philippine authorities said in December that Co was believed to be hiding in Portugal.
The DFA canceled Co’s Philippine passport on Dec. 10, 2025, on orders of the Sandiganbayan, which had issued an arrest warrant for him in connection with a corruption case, and in compliance with the Philippine Passport Act of 1996.
The warrant was intended to force him to either return to the Philippines on his own or to be arrested by foreign authorities and deported to the country.
Philippine authorities believe Co had acquired a “golden visa” from Portugal under a Portuguese government program which grants noncitizens of the European Union a five-year residency permit in exchange for making investments amounting to at least 500,000 euros (P35 million). The golden visa would allow the holder to move freely around Europe.
The DFA declined to provide more details of Co’s arrest, saying “a statement will be made at the appropriate time.”
The Philippine National Police on Friday said it was “prepared” to assume custody of Co upon his arrival in the country.
No extradition treaty
“The PNP is closely coordinating with concerned government agencies, particularly the Department of Foreign Affairs, to facilitate the necessary legal and diplomatic processes for his return to the Philippines,” it said in a statement.
According to lawyer Rodel Taton, an international law expert, “If the extradition route is not possible because there is no treaty between the Philippines and the Czech Republic, a deportation may be proper. We take note that deportation can happen when a person violates the immigration laws.”
“So in (Co’s) case, there is illegal entry and not possession of proper documents. What will happen next is a deportation process,” said Taton, dean of the Graduate School of Law at San Sebastian College-Recoletos.
Since Co’s arrest was administrative and not criminal in nature, Taton also said it might take months before the former lawmaker is deported back to the Philippines.
“(Co) may be immediately subjected to a deportation proceeding. And he’ll be given a short period of time, like 10 days, 15 days, to submit his response. And after that, a decision may be released by the authorities and he can be deported,” he said.
Offering another scenario, Taton said Co “may apply as an asylum seeker” in the Czech Republic and claim that he is facing “persecution” in the Philippines because of the statements he has made against the current administration.
But Taton noted that since Co is actually facing arrest warrants issued by the Sandiganbayan, “it may be (made) very clear that this is not a case of persecution (but) a case of prosecution for violations of graft and malversation laws in the Philippines.” —WITH REPORTS FROM GABRYELLE DUMALAG AND GABRIEL PABICO LALU
