Palace: Marcos optimistic Zaldy Co, others will be arrested
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro and former lawmaker Zaldy Co (file photos)
President Marcos remains optimistic that those on the run, including former lawmaker Zaldy Co, will be arrested and held accountable.
"Of course, oo. Optimistic ang Pangulo na mahuhuli at madadala ang mga nagtatago sa kamay ng batas dito sa Pilipinas para mapanagot kung sila ay dapat na mapanagot (The President is optimistic that those hiding from the law will be arrested and brought back to the Philippines so they can be held accountable if they should be held accountable)," Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Thursday, Jan. 29.
In November 2025, arrest warrants were issued against Co and others over anomalous flood control projects.
He was previously believed to be hiding in a gated community in Lisbon, Portugal. However, he is reported to be currently in Sweden.
The government, Castro said, will verify the recent whereabouts of Co and coordinate with Sweden to search for him.
"Sa ngayon po ay nakikipag-ugnayan din po tayo sa DILG at ang huli nga po nilang sinabi ay aalamin po nila kung ito’y may katotohanan. At tiwala naman po ang Pangulo sa ginagawa pong trabaho ng ating mga ahensya ng gobyerno lalong-lalo na sa pagtugis sa mga fugitives (At present, we are also coordinating with the DILG, and their latest statement was that they will verify whether this is true. The President, meanwhile, has full confidence in the work of our government agencies, especially in pursuing fugitives)," Castro said.
She added that there is no frustration on the part of Marcos as fugitives, including Co, who are allegedly involved in the massive flood control mess, remain at large.
"Hindi natin masasabing may frustration ang Pangulo dahil alam po niya na ang mga namumuno sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno na tumutugis sa mga fugitive ay nagtatrabaho nang ayon sa kanyang utos (We cannot say that the President is frustrated, because he knows that the heads of government agencies pursuing fugitives are working according to his instructions)," Castro said.
"Kinakailangan lang po siguro na talagang mas pagpursigihin pa ang paghahanap sa mga taong nagtatago sa kamay ng batas (What may be necessary, however, is to further intensify the search for those who are hiding from the law)," she added.