Malacañang has assured the public that the government's search for former congressman Zaldy Co continues, despite the Sandiganbayan's decision to archive his graft case after authorities failed to arrest him for more than six months.
Palace statement on case archive
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said law enforcement authorities have not abandoned their duty to locate Co, who faces graft and malversation charges related to an allegedly anomalous road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. Castro emphasized that the archiving of the case is merely a procedural step and does not mean the charges against Co have been dismissed.
According to Castro, the case has only been temporarily removed from the court's active docket and will be reinstated to regular proceedings once the former lawmaker is arrested. She further explained that the prescriptive period stops running while the case is archived, ensuring Co remains liable even if he stays abroad for an extended period.
Background of the case
Co, a former chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, is one of the key figures linked to alleged anomalies in flood control projects. In November 2025, he released videos on social media implicating President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in an alleged kickback scheme.
Co left the Philippines in July 2025 using a travel authority for medical treatment. The Sandiganbayan issued a warrant for his arrest on November 21, 2025. In April, President Marcos stated that the government would try to bring Co back to the country after reports emerged that he had been arrested in the Czech Republic for alleged immigration violations. However, Malacañang later confirmed that Co was no longer in Czech custody and had applied for political asylum in France.
