Palace: Zaldy Co applying for asylum in France

MANILA, Philippines — Fugitive lawmaker Zaldy Co is in France seeking asylum, Malacañang said Tuesday, April 28, citing information relayed to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the DFA received "highly reliable information" that Co had applied for asylum and is now under the jurisdiction of French authorities.

"He was reportedly requested to transfer and is now under the jurisdiction of French authorities at their request due to his asylum petition," Castro said.

The development hours after Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida, who is in Prague, said Co was no longer in the custody of authorities in the Czech Republic.

Government's next steps

Castro said all Philippine missions in Europe have been directed to verify Co’s status.

"All missions in Europe have been instructed to obtain further official confirmation," she said.

She added that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to meet with the French ambassador to Manila and the Czech Republic’s charge d’affaires to discuss possible steps to facilitate Co’s return.

Vida earlier said he had limited information on how Co left Czech jurisdiction, but disclosed that the former lawmaker holds three passports. His Philippine passport was revoked in December 2025.

Legal hurdles

International law expert Evecar Cruz-Ferrer said the Philippines’ ability to retrieve Co would depend on existing legal arrangements.

"First thing to consider is if we have extradition treaty with that country," Cruz-Ferrer said.

She noted that asylum claims could further complicate efforts to secure Co’s return.

"Another challenge is if the reason the fugitive is applying asylum falls under the concept of ‘non-refoulment’ and would require the State to not return the fugitive," she added.

Co has been a fugitive since mid-2025, before investigations into alleged flood control anomalies intensified.

In November 2025, the Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant against him over a P289.5-million road dike project in Oriental Mindoro.