Resigned Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co has been released by Czech authorities due to the absence of an Interpol red notice, Philippine officials said—a development that allows him to move freely within Europe’s Schengen area.
Justice Secretary Frederick Vida said Czech officials confirmed during a high-level meeting in Prague that Co had been under their jurisdiction but was no longer in custody at the time of the Philippine delegation’s visit.
“He was within Czech jurisdiction and under their custody, but is no longer there,” Vida said in a press briefing from Prague.
Vida said the key factor behind Co’s release was the absence of a red notice from Interpol, which the Philippine government applied for in November 2025 but has yet to be issued.
“A red notice would enable any member country to detain and return him through extradition or deportation,” Vida said. “Without that, there are limitations.”
With no active red notice, Co is believed to be moving within the Schengen Area, where internal borders are largely open and movement between countries is less strictly monitored.
Philippine officials said Czech authorities declined to provide details on the circumstances of Co’s release—including how long he had been held, how he exited custody, or his method of travel—citing Schengen regulations and data privacy restrictions.
“What we can confirm is that he is within the Schengen area,” Vida said. “That is the workable intelligence that we have.”
Authorities said intelligence suggests Co may have traveled overland to neighboring countries such as Germany, Austria, Poland, or Slovakia, possibly using a vehicle identified by investigators. However, details about the vehicle and its driver were withheld due to an ongoing operation.
Vida said Co was previously found carrying an expired passport dated September 2022 when he was accosted by Czech authorities, while his valid Philippine passport had already been canceled and reported to international agencies.
Despite this, officials acknowledged that enforcement across Schengen borders remains difficult without a red notice, which serves as the primary international alert mechanism for coordinated arrests.
Under Interpol procedures, a red notice is not an arrest warrant but a request for law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally detain a subject pending extradition, subject to national laws.
Philippine authorities said the application for Co’s red notice remains under review, with additional documentation submitted to strengthen the case file, including records from the Department of Justice, Office of the Ombudsman, Commission on Audit, and Sandiganbayan involving graft and corruption charges.
Philippine Center on Transnational Crime executive director Major General Romeo Prestoza said the revised submission was structured to meet Interpol requirements, including the principle of reciprocity, which requires that the alleged offenses are punishable in both jurisdictions.
“We gathered all official records and explained the cases he is facing, aligning them with anti-corruption laws recognized in Europe,” Prestoza said during the same press briefing.
He said the updated submission was based on a review of previously successful Interpol applications as part of efforts to strengthen the legal basis for issuing the red notice.
Vida said the additional documentation should not be interpreted as Interpol having formally flagged deficiencies in the initial request.
“Wala namang nagsabing kulang,” he said.
Still, he acknowledged that the absence of a red notice had effectively weakened enforcement options at a critical time when Co was still within Czech jurisdiction.
The justice secretary also said Czech authorities indicated that the lack of a police cooperation agreement between Manila and Prague further limited information-sharing, prompting discussions on fast-tracking agreements on extradition, mutual legal assistance, and the transfer of sentenced persons.
Both countries, he said, reaffirmed commitments under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, which provides a framework for international cooperation in corruption-related cases.
Vida said Philippine embassies and law enforcement “listening posts” across Europe have been activated, but there have been no confirmed sightings of Co in other Schengen states as of the briefing.
He added that it remains unclear whether Co sought political asylum or whether his interaction with Czech authorities was limited to an immigration-related stop prior to his release.
“We don’t know the exact nature,” Vida said.
Despite the setback, Vida said Philippine authorities remain confident of eventually locating Co but acknowledged the difficulty of tracking a fugitive without a red notice in a region with largely open internal borders.
“This is not an easy task,” he said.
Vida said he will submit a full report to the President upon returning to Manila and coordinate next steps with law enforcement agencies, including efforts to strengthen international agreements and improve Interpol coordination.
Asked about timelines, he declined to provide a specific estimate for Co’s return to the Philippines.
“Maraming factors involved,” Vida said. “But we will pursue accountability through every legal channel available.”
