The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed that the reported presence of former Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co in Paris was disclosed by a “highly regarded diplomatic source.”
Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro stated that the Philippine Embassy in France is currently monitoring the situation as Co reportedly seeks asylum following legal troubles in the Philippines.
Addressing the Manila Overseas Press Club, Lazaro explained that while the embassy is “looking intently” at the case, specific details remain confidential due to the sensitive nature of diplomatic communications.
“The information that he is in Paris came from a highly regarded diplomatic source, which I cannot reveal because it was said to us in confidence. However, the embassy now is really looking intently on that,” Lazaro said.
Legal Background and Asylum Process
The reported asylum bid follows warrants of arrest issued against Co and 17 others regarding alleged anomalies in a ₱289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro. The Office of the Ombudsman has filed corruption and malversation charges before the Sandiganbayan, though Co has maintained his innocence.
Lazaro acknowledged the complexities of navigating European Union (EU) asylum regulations, noting that the Philippine government is working within legal boundaries to secure his return.
“Asylum seekers and asylum issues is just a sensitive matter for Europe because it is EU regulations and this is their regulations. But rest assured that we are doing everything within the confines of the law on how to go about it,” she said.
In France, asylum requests are handled by the Office Français de Protection des Réfugiés et Apatrides (OFPRA), involving a rigorous process of registration, evaluation, and potential appeals.
Passport Status and Interpol Involvement
The DFA confirmed that Co’s travel documents are no longer valid. His diplomatic passport was officially cancelled in December 2025 following a court order, while his regular passport had already expired in 2022. These details have been shared with Interpol to assist in tracking his movements.
Lazaro also revealed that Co was previously intercepted while attempting to cross the border from the Czech Republic into Germany using an invalid document.
“I think what happened in Czech while he was crossing the German border he had an expired passport,” Lazaro said. “Expired Philippine passport and therefore how can you cancel an expired passport, it’s already cancelled it’s not usable, but this was what he had, that was what was caught in him.”
The Philippine government continues to explore all legal channels to address the case and ensure accountability.