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Sam Beltran

The arrest of fugitive former congressman Zaldy Co has revived a long-stalled Philippine corruption investigation and sharpened political pressure on President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, whom the wanted lawmaker has accused of personally benefiting from a multibillion-peso kickback scheme tied to flood control projects.
Observers called Co’s arrest a “notable step towards accountability” in a case that had stalled after the collapse of the commission set up to investigate it.
Co resigned from the House of Representatives in September after being implicated in the scandal. He was detained in Prague after crossing into the Czech Republic without proper documentation, Marcos announced on Thursday night.
The Philippines has no extradition treaty with the Czech Republic, and officials said Co’s return could take one to three weeks.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla called Co’s arrest “the missing puzzle piece” in a broader investigation into anomalies in the country’s infrastructure projects.
“The pieces of the puzzle are slowly being put together,” he told reporters. “Expect next week that more information will come out. We will piece together the mystery of this flood control [scandal].”
Co left the Philippines in July for what he described as medical treatment, days before Marcos ordered a crackdown on flood-control corruption.
He resigned two months later as contractors and former public works officials began testifying to collusion between lawmakers, bureaucrats and builders – testimony that sparked months of hearings and widespread public outrage.
As chairman of the House appropriations committee from 2022 until January 2025, Co was questioned over his ties to construction firms – particularly Sunwest, which had won a major share of flood control contracts in 2022.
Sunwest was awarded billions of pesos in government infrastructure projects during his tenure.
Public works engineers also testified that Co was tied to anomalous budget insertions of at least 35 million pesos from 2022 to 2025 – allegations he has denied.
From abroad, Co has released videos accusing Marcos and former House speaker Martin Romualdez – the president’s cousin – of orchestrating 100 billion pesos (US$1.69 billion) in anomalous insertions in the 2025 national budget, claims the presidential palace has denied.

Palace press office Undersecretary Claire Castro on Friday said Co’s arrest was proof that the Marcos administration had not forgotten the flood control scandal, amid competing crises including the impeachment proceedings against Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio and the energy emergency sparked by the Iran war.
“The government’s actions and the president’s orders remain that those who must be held accountable will be held accountable,” Castro said.
Co had grown “complacent” in his travels around Europe, which led to his arrest, Remulla said. He confirmed that Co would be turned over to the Philippine National Police on arrival.
Other legislators hailed the arrest but urged the government to fast-track Co’s deportation.
“With the arrest of Zaldy Co, the Philippine government should waste no time in fast-tracking his deportation. He must face the cases against him, address his allegations in the proper forum, and disclose everything that he knows, and the evidence he possesses in these anomalous flood control projects,” Representative Leila de Lima said in a statement on Friday.
Lawmaker Chel Diokno called the arrest a “welcome development”, adding that Co’s capture gave him the opportunity to answer all allegations about the 2025 budget.
“As the country continues to deal with the consequences of these projects, one thing is clear: the public has not forgotten,” Diokno said.
Representative Terry Ridon said he was counting on information Co might provide about other lawmakers tied to the scheme.
Co faces corruption and malversation charges before the Sandiganbayan, the country’s anti-graft court.

Breakthrough in investigation
Co’s arrest marks a breakthrough for the months-long probe into anomalous flood control projects, which met several setbacks, including the resignation of commissioners tasked to review irregularities in the country’s infrastructure projects.
On March 31, the embattled Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) ended after just six months of operations following its creation in September. It had faced criticisms, even from its own members, of its supposed lack of power and resources, as well as true independence and transparency.
ICI chief Andres Reyes himself had recommended winding down operations, saying the ICI had managed to convene as a three-person commission for only 90 days.
In December, ICI commissioners Rogelio Singson and Rossana Fajardo both resigned from the fact-finding body.
Senator Panfilo Lacson, who heads the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that has led hearings on the corruption scandal, confirmed that Co would be asked to face the committee “at first opportunity” after failing to testify before the panel in January.
Lacson has suspended all committee hearings on the controversy until its partial findings have been reported to the plenary, which would allow senators to discuss the panel’s recommendations to file corruption charges against former and current senators and members of the House of Representatives.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has meanwhile ordered a lifestyle check on 26 House members said to be involved as contractors in government projects.

Arjan Aguirre, assistant professor of political science at the Ateneo de Manila University, called Co’s arrest a “notable step towards accountability” as it allowed the proper institutions to “move forward with the legal process and address the corruption allegations through established procedures”.
“Co is now subject to investigation by multiple institutions, not just the legislature. He is expected to respond to the cases filed before the Sandiganbayan,” Aguirre said.
“In Congress, his arrest is likely to prompt the resumption of committee hearings on the flood control controversy, where he will be asked to explain his alleged involvement in the budget insertions.”
However, Aguirre warned that Co might attempt to frame his arrest as political persecution, while the Duterte camp could leverage Co’s narrative “to advance their broader agenda, including intensifying attacks against the Marcos bloc over the flood control controversy”.
“This may unfold alongside the ongoing committee hearings on the vice-president’s impeachment case, potentially shaping a coordinated and sustained public messaging effort,” he said.
“ All actions and decisions must be firmly grounded in evidence and supported by documentation. It is equally important to demonstrate restraint and proportionality to avoid reinforcing claims of political targeting or persecution.”


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Arrest of Philippine ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co ‘missing puzzle piece’ in flood-control probe

Former lawmaker Zaldy Co (left) and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr. Photo: AFP

Zaldy Co was detained in Prague after crossing into the Czech Republic without proper documentation. Photo: Captured off YouTube

Representative Leila de Lima has urged the Philippine government to fast-track Zaldy Co’s deportation. Photo: EPA-EFE

Independent Commission for Infrastructure chief Andres Reyes (standing, left) oversees the submission of investigation reports on alleged anomalous government projects in October 2025. Photo: EPA

People wade through floodwaters brought by Tropical Storm Penha in Iligan, Lanao del Norte province on February 6. Photo: AFP

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Customers stop at pump terminals at a petrol station in Quezon City on April 7. Photo: EPA

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Protesters, one wearing a mask of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, take part in an anti-corruption protest in Manila, the Philippines, on November 30, 2025. Photo: AP

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr delivers a report on government investigative efforts against corruption in Manila on November 13, 2025. Photo: EPA

Former senator Ramon Revilla Jnr is surrounded by prison officers after attending corruption proceedings at the Sandiganbayan court on January 23. Photo: EPA

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As commissioners quit, Philippines’ flood-control probe faces credibility crisis

Independent Commission for Infrastructure chair Andres Reyes Jr (left) oversees the submission of investigation reports to the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City, Metro Manila, on October 29 as the panel probes alleged corruption in flood-control infrastructure projects. Photo: EPA

Rogelio Singson speaks at a press conference in Manila on December 4 after announcing his resignation as a commissioner of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI). Photo: EPA

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr speaks at a press conference at Malacanang Palace in Manila on November 13, where he addressed government investigations into alleged corruption in infrastructure programmes, including flood control projects. Photo: EPA

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Observers say Co’s arrest is a ‘notable step towards accountability’ and committee hearings on the flood control scandal could resume


Observers say Co’s arrest is a ‘notable step towards accountability’ and committee hearings on the flood control scandal could resume.


Arrest of Philippine ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co ‘missing puzzle piece’ in flood-control probe

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Observers say Co’s arrest is a ‘notable step towards accountability’ and committee hearings on the flood control scandal could resume

Observers say Co’s arrest is a ‘notable step towards accountability’ and committee hearings on the flood control scandal could resume