PRAGUE – “Mahalagang bagay kaugnay ni Zaldy Co (Important things about former congressman Zaldy Co)”.
These are what acting Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Fredderick Vida would bring back to the Philippines after meeting his Czech counterparts on Monday afternoon in Prague – and finding out that Co is no longer in Czech custody or territory.
“Actionable intel, definitely. That we’ll relay it to you, (Philippine Center on Transnational Crime director) Sec. (Romeo) Prestoza, on matters of how to expand further yung mga bagay-bagay na ‘yan (those kinds of issues) because that’s a law enforcement matter,” Vida told reporters.
In his meeting with senior officials from the Czech ministries of justice, interior, and foreign affairs, Vida said Czech authorities raised a possible cooperation agreement between the Philippine and Czech police.
“They’re directing us to firm up on the Police Cooperation Agreement. Sinasabi nila, kung mayroon lang tayo noon (They’re saying, if only we have that).”
Chief State Counsel Dennis Chan said such an agreement would have allowed the Czech police to share information with their Philippine counterparts.
Asked when the agreement could be drafted and if it could help Philippine authorities get the former congressman, Vida said he would coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) upon his return to Manila on April 30.
“I need to coordinate further with the PNP and the DILG on the matter. But definitely, we will make a comprehensive report to the President on this matter. And on the impression that I got, that would be a key part in this matter,” he said.
“That timeline is unpredictable. But we will do our best to pursue that upon our advice, in coordination with the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and the Office of the President,” Vida added.
Asked if this failure to immediately bring Co home is a major blow to the government’s fight against corruption in the flood control mess, Vida called the situation a “temporary setback.”
“Let’s look at this – sabi nga nila, hindi naman binibilang yung nadadapa ka. Ang mahalaga yung pagbangon at may natutunan tayo. Pero hindi ko tinuturing ito na–nadelay lang tayo. Nadelay lang tayo,” he said.
(They say that it doesn’t count when you fall. What matters is that you get up and learn something. But I don’t consider this to be a delay. We were just delayed.)
Confused, disappointed
During his first briefing in Prague last Friday, Vida said they knew that Co was still in the Czech Republic at that time.
In Monday’s press briefing, he clarified that even then, there was “nothing official from the Czech authorities.”
“We have listening posts. May mga kinakausap kami (We were talking to people). But nothing official from the Czech authorities. That’s why we waited for that meeting today.”
Vida said he does not know the source of the information that made Marcos break the news of Co’s detention on April 16, during which he announced that Co was “nahuli” (caught) at the German-Czech border.
“Sorry, at this point, I really don’t know the direct sources of the President,” Vida said.
He also expressed his “confusion about the legal parameters” that Czech authorities employed for Co’s situation.
“I am disappointed for lack of further knowledge,” Vida said.
Co is ‘free’
Sources told GMA News that Co allegedly presented an expired Philippine passport with a valid Schengen visa to Czech authorities.
Vida said his Czech counterparts did not provide further information on where the former congressman is now, or when, where, and why he was released from custody.
“They’re citing Schengen rules and data privacy provision,” he said.
Asked if Co’s current status is free, Vida replied, “Yes.”
“The exact information is that he is no longer within the territory of the Czech Republic. He is not detained,” Vida said.
He agreed with Malacañang’s position that the President’s announcement was not prematurely made.
“Batid naman natin lahat ng pagnanasa natin na malaman yung information. At ‘pag may nakarating na ganoon–kung sakaling sa akin nakarating yun, magpre-press con din ako. Kasi karapatan ng mamamayan na malaman na nandoon siya (Co) sa Czech Republic. Kaya nung nag-announce ang ating Mahal na Pangulo, tama yung ginawa ng Mahal na Pangulo dahil ‘yan ay base sa tunay na nangyari.”
(We understand that everyone wants to know more information. If it happened that I got the information first, I would also have a press conference because it is the right of Filipinos to know that Zaldy Co was in the Czech Republic. What the President did–announcing it–was correct because it was based on what happened.) — JMA, GMA News
