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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Palace: Gov't to ensure Zaldy Co's safe return to the Philippines

Palace: Gov't to ensure Zaldy Co's safe return to the Philippines

Published Apr 21, 2026 03:49 pm
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro and former lawmaker Zaldy Co (file photos)
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro and former lawmaker Zaldy Co (file photos)
Malacañang said the government will ensure that former lawmaker Zaldy Co, who was arrested in Prague, Czech Republic, last week, will return to the country safely.
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro stated on Tuesday, April 21, that the government will provide protection to Co to ensure his safe return.
"Nevertheless, the government will always ensure the safety and the needed protection to be given to Zaldy Co," Castro said in a Palace briefing.
The Palace official said this after Senator JV Ejercito raised that the biggest challenge in bringing the former lawmaker back to the country is ensuring his safety.
Ejercito also warned that some groups may not want him to return and testify on the flood control scandal.
Castro, however, stressed that the safety concerns, including death threats, should be traced and verified first.
"So, tingin ko dapat doon muna, e, kasi (So, I think, we should first look into that because) there is no basis. There will be a lack of basis if you cannot prove that death threats against Zaldy Co," Castro said.
"So, dapat doon tayo mag-start: may death threats nga ba (Let us start from that, are there really death threats)?" Castro added.
"Kasi, how can you assure somebody na hindi mapapariwa pagbalik mo sa Pilipinas kung wala namang death threats (Because how can you assure someone that you won’t be harmed when you return to the Philippines if there aren’t even any death threats)?" the Palace mouthpiece further said.

Proof of arrest

Almost a week after Co's arrest in the Czech Republic, the government has yet to release any photos or documentation of his arrest, raising questions about the legitimacy of his arrest.
Malacañang stressed that the reason for this was that another country was involved in the arrest.
"Kasi mayroon pong ibang country na involved. So, maingat po ang gobyerno sa pagbibigay ng anumang anunsyo. Hayaan na lamang po natin na magtrabaho ang ating gobyerno (Because another country is involved. So the government is careful in making any announcements. Let’s just allow our government to do its job)," Castro explained.
Castro also dismissed disinformation surrounding Co's arrest, saying that President Marcos and the Secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ) have already spoken about it. Thus, the people should no longer pay attention to fake news peddlers.

Related Tags

Zaldy Co Claire Castro President Marcos flood control anomalies
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