National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Atty. Melvin Matibag said the bureau is set to coordinate with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in the case of former congressman Zaldy Co, who was recently apprehended in Prague, Czech Republic.
Speaking on DZRH’s “Dos Por Dos,” Matibag said the DOJ and DFA are expected to take the lead in managing the case, while the NBI awaits formal instructions regarding its specific role following the reported arrest announced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday night, April 16.
“Well, sa ngayon po wala pang track. Kagabi po nangyari yan, ako nga papunta na po sa opisina ko para makipag-coordinate po sa mga ibang ahensya lalo na po sa Department of Justice. Bilang palagay ko sila po dapat ang lead agency dito at siyempre po ang Department of Foreign Affairs.”
Matibag explained that the NBI’s participation in international cases is generally carried out through its International Operations Division in coordination with the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC). He said the bureau will await directives from higher authorities.
Co is currently under the custody of the Czech government, according to Matibag, although details of the arrest remain limited.
The NBI chief also confirmed that Co’s Philippine passports — both diplomatic and official — had already been canceled. He said there is no verified information supporting reports that Co may have acquired citizenship or legal status in countries such as Spain or Portugal.
“Dito sa pagkakahuli sa kanya [Zaldy Co], to my understanding is on violation of immigration law po,” Matibag said.
He cautioned against speculation on how Co may have traveled or moved within European Union states without valid documents, saying authorities are still awaiting a complete report.
“Everything is possibilities. We will all just be speculating and guessing. Kaya nga po ngayon maghihintay tayo ng mas detalyadong report.”
“That's why I'm mentioning kanina, it should be DOJ and DFA as jointly there should be the lead agency po rito. Of course with the guidance of our President po, yan po yung tingin ko na dapat nangyari po dyan.”
Matibag reiterated that coordination between agencies, led by the DOJ and DFA with guidance from the President, would be key in determining the next steps in the case.
He also differentiated the situation from previous high-profile overseas arrests, such as that of dismissed mayor Alice Guo in Indonesia, where Philippine law enforcement agencies directly participated in coordination and retrieval operations under an active international notice.
In Co’s case, Matibag emphasized that inter-agency coordination led by the DOJ and DFA, with guidance from the President, would be crucial in determining the next steps.
