By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
After announcing an earlier foiled entry at the border separating Germany and Czech Republic, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued updates about the status of former Ako-Bicol Partylist Representative Elizaldy Co following his arrest on April 17.
In a video message uploaded on social media on Monday, the President said that Co is still held under the custody of Czech authorities, while awaiting further action about his deportation back to the Philippines.
“Ang ganitong mga proseso ay may sinusunod na mga legal na hakbang sa pagitan ng mga bansa. Kaya’t nangangailangan ng sapat na panahon upang maisagawa nang tama.”
President Marcos Jr. likewise ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of Justice (DOJ) to facilitate talks with their counterparts in Prague, requesting them to send a high-level coordination team to help in processing the return of the fugitive back to Manila.
In an earlier briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro shared the President’s satisfaction with Co’s arrest, citing the former lawmaker as one of the “big fish” involved in this pressing national concern.
Co left the country in July 2025, initially citing medical treatment in the United States, but never returned and went into several months of hiding while uploading video messages on his social media page, dragging the President in the flood control mess.
The Chief Executive wrapped up his remarks by ensuring that the embattled lawmaker will face the music in Philippine courts, and will be called to answer for his alleged involvement in a P289.4 million road dike project in Naujan, Occidental Mindoro.
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