MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday insisted there was nothing premature or false about the earlier announcement made by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. regarding the apprehension of former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co in the Czech Republic.
In a press conference, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro defended Marcos and maintained there was nothing irregular about his pronouncement.
“What did the President announce? He announced that Co was held in custody, that's correct. He said Co was in custody at the Czech Republic, that's correct also. He also said that we are coordinating with the Czech Republic, that's right. So, what's premature with that? There's nothing premature with that,” Castro said in Filipino.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) last week clarified that Co, technically, was not arrested by Czech authorities although his movements were restrained because of immigration violations.
Castro reiterated that Marcos did not commit misinformation as the word “arrest” did not come from the chief executive.
“First of all, if you notice, on April 16, the president first posted that, "Zaldy Co has been caught." When we say that Zaldy Co has been caught, it doesn't necessarily mean that it was an arrest. The word "caught" is very general. So, when he was caught, we can say that he was stopped—stopped or prevented from acting, and the President was not wrong in what he reported on April 16,” she said.
“April 17, he posted again. He said here, "Our coordination with the Czech authorities continues. 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." It's not wrong. The word "arrest" did not come from the president himself,” she added.
DOJ Secretary Fredderick Vida last week flew to Praque to gather more information regarding Co’s apprehension and to coordinate how Co, who is facing graft and malversation charges in connection to the flood control scandal, would be brough back to the Philippines.
