MANILA, Philippines — Resigned Ako Bicol Party-list representative Zaldy Co is staying in an upscale property along the Champs-Élysées in France while pursuing political asylum, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Friday.
Remulla, speaking at the Samahang Plaridel Kapihan media forum, said Co was in a high-end property in one of Paris’ most exclusive districts.
“He has a house on the Champs-Élysées with 10 bedrooms, near Christian Dior. That’s where he is staying now,” he said, estimating the property value at around 200 million euros.
According to Remulla, Co filed an application for political asylum in France just last week, noting that asylum applications can only be lodged in one country.
“You can only file once. For (former presidential spokesman) Harry Roque, he only applied in Vienna. You cannot apply again in another place. So he can only apply in France,” he said.
Remulla added that Philippine and French authorities wgerecommunicatin regarding Co’s asylum bid.
“There are conversations going on to that effect. Nag-uusap naman sila (They are talking),” he said.
'Red notice still pending'
The disclosure on Co’s whereabouts and asylum application came as Remulla confirmed that the Philippine government’s request for an Interpol Red Notice against the former lawmaker remained pending six months after it was filed.
He said the request was submitted in September 2025 through the Presidential Commission for Transnational Crimes (PCTC), but Interpol has yet to act on it.
“September 2025. We already applied. It turns out that the laws in the Philippines and Interpol are different. As long as there is even a slight political inclination, they delay it,” Remulla said.
Despite the delay, he expressed confidence that the notice would eventually be issued.
“I’m confident we will get the red notice. I’m confident we’re going to get Zaldy Co back here to the Philippines,” he said.
'Detention in Europe'
Remulla also detailed Co’s movements in Europe, confirming that he was detained for 36 hours at the border between the Czech Republic and Germany.
He said he personally informed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the incident, adding that Co was stopped by immigration authorities while attempting to enter Germany and was brought to Prague.
“He was detained for 36 hours. I was the one who informed the President of his capture. The DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs] and DOJ [Department of Justice] took the lead,” he said.
Remulla said Co presented an expired Philippine passport during the incident, contrary to earlier speculation that he had used a Portuguese passport.
“He presented a Philippine passport, but it was already expired. So what he presented was a Philippine passport, not the one from Portugal,” he said.
He added that government counsel was en route to Prague when Co was reportedly released after undergoing court proceedings with a lawyer he had hired.
“I think he went through court proceedings where he had a lawyer he hired, and then he was released. It was an immigration violation because his passport had already expired,” he said.
'Government continues push' Remulla said efforts to secure Co’s return were ongoing, including diplomatic coordination and continued engagement with Interpol.
He said he has raised the matter with Interpol officials, though the red notice process has been slow.
“If I could just kneel in front of Interpol to get the red notice, I would do it. I’ve already spoken with the vice president of Interpol, the chairman has not yet. We’re trying our best,” he said.
He stressed that the red notice remained key to bringing Co back to the Philippines and dismissed concerns that the asylum application could derail efforts.
“Let’s prioritize the red notice first. We will get him before his asylum application is finished. I am confident that before it is completed, we will already have Zaldy,” he said.
