THE government is eyeing deportation as the fastest way to secure the return of fugitive and resigned congressman Zaldy Co from the Czech Republic, a Department of Justice (DOJ) official said Saturday.
DOJ Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said authorities are weighing two legal pathways to bring Co back to the country: extradition, which typically involves prolonged judicial proceedings, and deportation, which can be carried out more swiftly.
“Extradition is usually a longer process. Deportation is faster, especially if the person is found to be an undocumented alien,” Vasquez said in an interview.
Co, at the center of the massive flood control bribery scandal, was reportedly arrested for immigration violations after his Philippine passport had been canceled, effectively rendering him an undocumented foreign national in the Czech Republic. The cancellation was tied to his status as a fugitive, with an existing warrant of arrest issued by the Sandiganbayan in connection with corruption charges.
The absence of an extradition treaty between the Philippines and the Czech Republic does not prevent authorities from pursuing Co’s return, Vasquez said.
“There may be no extradition treaty, but that does not prevent deportation,” he said, noting that host countries can remove undocumented foreign nationals under their domestic laws.Vasquez added that cooperation is expected between Manila and Prague under the United Nations framework, particularly the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, to which both countries are signatories.
The convention encourages international cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of corruption cases, including facilitating the return of individuals facing charges.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is currently coordinating with Czech authorities to expedite the process.
Confrontation
Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Panfilo Lacson said he wants Co, upon his return to the Philippines, to directly confront former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo over conflicting claims tied to an ongoing Senate investigation.
Bernardo had disputed Co’s earlier allegation that he delivered P100 billion to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“I want Co to confront Bernardo over their differing accounts,” Lacson said, underscoring his intent to clarify key contradictions if Co appears before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
The planned confrontation forms part of Lacson’s priority line of questioning, should hearings on alleged irregularities in flood control projects resume.
Lacson said Co’s reported arrest could influence the direction of the investigation and may prompt more senators to support the committee’s partial report — an essential step before proceedings can continue.
“Co’s arrest is a good development because now it’s up to them to ensure that the hearings resume. It’s on them — do they want the hearings to continue and for Co to be grilled? The burden is now on them to sign the partial report,” he said in a statement shared with The Manila Times.
The senator noted that at least nine signatures are required for the partial report to be formally filed and sponsored in plenary, in accordance with Senate rules.
He had earlier suspended further hearings pending sufficient support for the report, emphasizing that continuing proceedings without a formal committee output would be “pointless” and procedurally unsound.
Apart from the alleged P100 billion claim, Lacson said he intends to question Co about videos the latter posted on social media late last year.
“In the videos he posted on social media, what parts are true and what parts are not? That would be my first question,” he said.
Broader liability
Lacson also said the committee’s findings could expose Co to more serious legal challenges beyond his existing case before the Sandiganbayan, where he faces charges over alleged anomalous flood control projects in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
He said evidence presented during Blue Ribbon hearings and in his privilege speeches suggests large-scale irregularities in Bulacan involving billions of pesos.
Citing testimonies from contractor Henry Alcantara and Bernardo, Lacson claimed that about P35 billion had been funneled into projects in Bulacan alone.
He added that the alleged scheme expanded to nearby provinces, with instructions reportedly given to shift funding allocations to areas such as Tarlac to avoid scrutiny.
“That can lead to another case against Co once the partial report is adopted. We will furnish the Department of Justice and Ombudsman copies of the partial report to build the new case against Co,” Lacson said.
Charges vs senators
The opposition-led Tindig Pilipinas on Saturday welcomed the arrest of Co in Europe.
“Zaldy Co must be returned to the country quickly and detained as he continues to be investigated,” the group said.
However, the group also called for the filing of charges against Senators Francis Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva, all of whom were named in the flood control scandal.
“We are sick of this! Every administration has its corruption scandal. When will we have leaders who are not also robber chieftains?” the group said.
“As for those senators who refuse to sign the committee report because they are protecting Escudero, Villanueva and Estrada ... shame on you,” they added.
In a Messenger chat with The Manila Times, Tindig Pilipinas co-convenor Kiko Aquino Dee called for the filing of charges against former House speaker Martin Romualdez, saying it is a “strong signal” that the government is not shielding allies.
