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Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro said information that former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co is in Paris came from a “highly regarded diplomatic source,” adding that the Philippine Embassy in France is closely monitoring the matter.
“The information that he is in Paris came from a highly regarded diplomatic source, which I cannot reveal because it was said to us in confidence. However, the embassy now is really looking intently on that,” Lazaro said during an open forum at a gathering organized by the Manila Overseas Press Club.
Co is reportedly seeking asylum in France, according to Malacañang.
Arrest warrants were issued against Co and 17 others over supposed anomalous flood control projects.
The Ombudsman filed with the Sandiganbayan corruption and malversation of public funds charges against Co and others in connection with the alleged anomalous P289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.
Co has since maintained his innocence over these corruption allegations.
Asked about Co’s reported asylum bid and whether the DFA knows if his request has already reached a certain level or stage, Lazaro said asylum matters are sensitive under European Union regulations, but assured the public that the Philippine government is pursuing all available legal means to bring him back to the country.
“Asylum seekers and asylum issues is just a sensitive matter for Europe because it is EU regulations and this is their regulations. But rest assured that we are doing everything within the confines of the law on how to go about it,” Lazaro said.
In France, asylum applications are handled by the Office Français de Protection des Réfugiés et Apatrides (Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons) or OFPRA.
After the request is registered with the proper French authorities — under EU rules — asylum procedures generally go through several stages, from registration and lodging of the application to examination and possible appeal.
Lazaro also said the Department of Foreign Affairs already cancelled Co’s diplomatic passport in December 2025 following a Sandiganbayan court order. His regular Philippine passport, meanwhile, expired in 2022.
The DFA earlier said the cancellation of one regular passport and one diplomatic passport was immediately reported to Interpol.
According to Lazaro, Co was believed to have presented an expired Philippine passport when he was recently caught in the Czech Republic while attempting to cross the German border.
“I think what happened in Czech while he was crossing the German border he had an expired passport,” Lazaro said. “Expired Philippine passport and therefore how can you cancel an expired passport, it’s already cancelled it’s not usable, but this was what he had, that was what was caught in him.”
Asked by GMA News whether authorities are also looking into the possibility that Co may be holding a French passport, Lazaro replied: “No, he’s not a french national. He just has a 2022 expired Philippine passport. ‘Yun ang alam namin.”
“Who said that he has a French passport? He’s an asylum seeker, he’s not a French national,” she added.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is looking for answers as to why France requested for the release of former lawmaker Zaldy Co from the custody of the Czech Republic.
This was according to Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro on Thursday when asked about Marcos’ meeting with French Ambassador Marie Fontanel on Wednesday.
According to Castro, the envoy did not provide further information, noting the President respected this.
Castro had said Marcos was dismayed on Co being released from the custody of Czech authorities, describing the outcome as ”very unsatisfactory.”
Co is reportedly seeking asylum in France, citing political persecution in the Philippines. — BAP, GMA News
