Metro Manila, Philippines – The Philippine government now finds itself in a race against time to bring fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co back to face justice, as his reported asylum bid in France threatens to complicate, and potentially delay, efforts to secure his return.
Malacañang confirmed that French authorities are aware of Co’s status as a fugitive facing graft and malversation cases in the Philippines. But beyond that, officials say there is little they can extract for now.
Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the French ambassador acknowledged Co’s legal situation during a meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., but could not disclose further details, citing strict policies governing asylum cases.
“Alam niya na fugitive si Mr. Zaldy Co at kinakailangan niyang humarap sa accountability,” Castro said, referring to the French envoy’s position.
[Translation: She knows that Mr. Zaldy Co needs to face accountability]
However, the palace admitted that it still has no clear update on the status or timeline of Co’s asylum application, a crucial gap that now defines the urgency of the situation.
A legal shield
At the center of the government’s concern is the asylum process itself.
Under international law, once an individual applies for asylum, host countries are generally bound by the principle of non-refoulement, meaning they cannot deport or return the applicant while the claim is being evaluated.
This protection alone can already delay any attempt to bring Co back to the Philippines.
If asylum is eventually granted, the challenge becomes even more complex.
Countries may refuse extradition if they believe the individual could face persecution, or if the charges are seen as politically motivated — the very basis cited in Co’s reported application.
Malacañang, however, strongly rejected this claim.
“Wala pong masasabing political persecution dito,” Castro said, noting that Co had long been facing corruption allegations even before leaving the country.
[Translation: There is no political persecution here]
The palace also acknowledged that the asylum route has become a growing concern for authorities, particularly for high-profile fugitives seeking to evade accountability.
The Interpol Red Notice
Compounding the challenge is the absence of an Interpol Red Notice against Co, a key enforcement mechanism that could have significantly strengthened the Philippines’ position.
A Red Notice serves as a global alert to law enforcement agencies, allowing member countries to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition.
Without it, the Philippines has limited legal basis to request Co’s detention abroad.
Even if issued, however, a Red Notice is not a guarantee of arrest.
Malacañang confirmed that the matter of expediting the Red Notice was not directly raised during the president’s meeting with French officials, underscoring the limits of what diplomatic channels can immediately achieve.
But when Co’s asylum bid officially begins, the Red Notice will be difficult to enforce since it should not be served in cases of political, religious, racially and militarily-motivated cases.
Limited information
The government is also facing barriers in tracking Co’s movements.
Earlier, Czech authorities confirmed that Co had been detained due to invalid travel documents, but was later released and is no longer within their territory.
From there, information becomes scarce.
Officials say European Union data privacy laws and Schengen rules have prevented the sharing of critical details including Co’s point of exit, exact location, and movements across borders.
Sources told NewsWatch Plus that there were no official details yet from France on the status of Co’s application.
For now, the government’s strategy hinges on timing.
If Co’s asylum application remains pending, there may still be room to negotiate or act through legal channels.
But if protections are formalized, options could narrow significantly.
Even as officials continue to gather information and coordinate with foreign counterparts, the pace of developments abroad may ultimately dictate the outcome.
Malacañang insists all necessary steps are being taken and with asylum proceedings potentially underway, the clock is ticking.
