Zaldy on the run again, seeks asylum in France

MANILA, Philippines, April 29 ------ The excitement turned out to be short-lived. Nearly two weeks after President Marcos’ announcement of Zaldy Co’s supposed detention in Prague, the fugitive former lawmaker, who is at the center of the flood control scam, is again on the run.

At a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed that Co is no longer in the Czech Republic and that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has received “reliable information” that he is seeking political asylum in France on the grounds of “political persecution. “I do not know the timeline, the date when the petition for asylum was filed. But before everything happened, there were efforts to track him and to bring him back here so he can answer the allegations of malversation, that he allegedly stole from public funds. There is no political persecution. That is clear,” Castro said. “He has been requested to be transferred to and is now under the jurisdiction of French authorities,” Castro said. “All missions in Europe have been instructed to obtain further official confirmation.”

The President, she added, will not intervene in Co’s asylum bid. But she said the Chief Executive is scheduled to meet with the ambassador of France and the Czech Republic’s chargé d’affaires today to discuss ways to bring Co back to the Philippines. Among the issues to be tackled are the assistance that other countries may provide as well as possible shortcomings, although Castro maintained that the government has done all it could to process Co’s return. “The government’s resolve remains strong. We will work with foreign governments through every legal channel available under international laws to bring Zaldy Co home and face the graft and malversation cases filed against him. We will do everything in accordance with the law and diplomatic processes,” she said.

Castro said Co is allowed to move around the Schengen area, which consists of 29 European countries.

Source: philstar.com