JUSTICE Secretary Fredderick Vida on Tuesday admitted that that fugitive former congressman Rizaldy Co is no longer in the Czech Republic.
Vida made the announcement after meeting with his counterpart and other high ranking officials of Czechia.
Vida has been tasked by President Marcos to head the Philippine mission to Prague in a bid to bring Co back to the country so he can face trial for plunder, graft and other criminal charges in connection with his alleged involvement in the multi-billion anomalous flood control projects of the government. The delegation left the country last April 22 and is expected to return to Manila on April 30, without concrete information on Co’s exact whereabouts.
‘I have to share difficult news mga kababayan. Czech authorities have informed us that Mr. Zaldy Co is no longer in their custody,’ Vida announced.
Aside the information that Co is no longer within the territory of Czech Republic, Vida said its officials refused to provide further information on Co, including when and why was he released from their custody.
The DOJ chief said Czech officials merely cited Schengen rules and data privacy policy in denying their request for additional information.
They also raised the lack of police cooperation agreement between the two countries as well as the lack of international arrest warrant or red notice issued by the Interpol against Co.
Vida said the government’s application for the issuance of a red notice has been pending with the Interpol for almost six months now. Vida expressed belief that Co was still under Czech custody before they left Manila last April 22 and upon their arrival in Prague on April 24.
‘We pursued any additional information and their reply was – we can no longer give you further information,’ Vida said.
Co has been in hiding since he left the country in August 2025 or before the flood control scandal broke out. He has been issued with arrest warrants by the Sandiganbayan in connection with his alleged criminal offenses.
Likewise, his Philippine passport has already been cancelled.
Vida also disclosed that the President has already been informed of this development. ‘Yes, he has been informed. As to the exact reaction of the President, I am not privy but definitely a comprehensive report will be made,’ Vida said.
The DOJ secretary noted that the Philippine government did not waste time in trying to bring Co back to the country from the time the President announced Co’s arrest by Czech authorities last April 16.
He noted that the government immediately coordinated with international authorities and dispatched a mission to Prague.
‘But we are working across sovereign borders and every country has it own laws, processes and timelines and we cannot compel a foreign government to act outside its legal framework. What we can do is work within those frameworks as aggressively as the law allows,’ Vida stressed.
Still, Vida expressed optimism that Co would eventually be caught and returned to the country considering that he is still in Schengen area based on the ‘workable’ intelligence information that the mission has gathered.
Schengen covers 29 European countries that have abolished border controls.
Vida also defended the President’s announcement about Co’s arrest, insisting that it was not premature since it was the information available at that time.
‘When the President made the announcement, that was the facts available, that Co was here in Czech Republic,’ he said.
Vida said based on their information Co was carrying an expired passport when he was accosted by Czech authorities on April due to possible immigration related issues.
He also said intelligence information indicates that Co is travelling around Schengen area by land.
‘Definitely he was traveling by land… We got information as to the registry of the vehicle,’ he said.
Vida refused to provide further details, noting that detwrmining Co’s remains an ‘active operation.’