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Rep. Elizaldy Co speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony of the ALECO Cullat Substation in February 2025.
Rep. Elizaldy Co via Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police said it is preparing the possible repatriation of flood control scam suspect and resigned lawmaker Zaldy Co following his arrest in Prague, Czech Republic.
In a statement posted on Facebook on Thursday, April 17, PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the police force has begun coordinating with relevant government agencies and international law enforcement counterparts in anticipation of Co’s return to the Philippines.
"The PNP stands ready to provide necessary assistance and support in ensuring that all legal processes are properly observed, including coordination for his possible return to the Philippines," Nartatez said.
"Further updates will be provided as soon as information is officially confirmed," he added.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday night confirmed that Co was apprehended in Prague after reportedly crossing into the Czech Republic without proper documentation.
He is now under the custody of Czech authorities.
"We are in close coordination with the Czech government to ensure that all legal processes are followed and to arrange for his return to the Philippines at the soonest possible time," Marcos wrote on Facebook.
Co, a former Ako Bicol party-list representative, has been in hiding since mid-2025, even before the formal investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control projects gained momentum.
In November 2025, the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant of arrest against Co over charges of graft and malversation of public funds linked to a P289.5-million road dike project along the Mag-asawang Tubig River in Oriental Mindoro.
The warrant also covered at least 15 other individuals, including officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways and a private construction firm.
Authorities later secured an Interpol Blue Notice against Co while the anti-graft court canceled his passport and declared him a fugitive.
Co had left the Philippines on July 19, purportedly for a medical check-up just days before Marcos ordered a probe into alleged corruption schemes involving flood control projects during his fourth State of the Nation Address.
In November, Co accused Marcos of ordering the insertion of P100 billion worth of projects into the 2025 national budget and alleged that Marcos benefited from kickbacks. Malacañang has denied the claims, describing them as baseless and hearsay.
While hiding abroad, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier said Co had attempted to reach out to Philippine authorities through intermediaries to seek dialogue. — with reports from Ian Laqui
