Senator Rodante Marcoleta has labeled Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Frederick Vida as a 'marites'—a term for someone spreading unverified information—regarding the reported arrest of former congressman and fugitive Zaldy Co in the Czech Republic.
Marcoleta's Allegations
According to Marcoleta, he suspects that Vida provided unverified information to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., claiming that Co was arrested in the Czech Republic. The senator alleged that Vida then requested the President to personally travel to the country to confirm the arrest.
Marcoleta questioned the necessity of DOJ officials traveling to the Czech Republic. He pointed out that if Co was indeed arrested abroad, the consular notification process should have been immediately implemented. This process involves informing the embassy of the arrested person's home country about the individual's identity, reasons for detention, location of imprisonment, and subsequent legal steps.
Questioning Government Expenses
The senator expressed confusion over why government officials needed to travel abroad when the same information could be obtained from the Czech Embassy in the Philippines. 'If you can get the details here, why go there using public funds?' Marcoleta said.
He also emphasized that if there is official information regarding Co's alleged arrest, it should be released to the public to avoid doubts and speculation.
No Official Confirmation
As of now, there has been no official confirmation from Czech authorities regarding the reported detention of Co. The situation remains unclear, and Marcoleta's remarks highlight the need for transparency and verified information in government actions.
