MANILA — Justice Secretary Frederick Vida said there are strong indications that former lawmaker Zaldy Co has been arrested by authorities in the Czech Republic, despite the absence of official documents or photographs confirming the arrest.

“Bakit naman magtatanong ang isang ahensya o ang isang government agency na may nakakakilala ba sa taong ito kung wala sa kanila?” Vida said during a briefing.

“Pero wala talaga pong dokumento na makakapag — okay, pero lahat po ng indikasyon nagsasabi na nandoon po ang kustodiya sa kanila,” he added.

In a report, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier announced that Co, a former chair of the House Appropriations Committee, had been arrested in Prague and would be brought back to the Philippines in accordance with the law.

Asked to elaborate on the basis of these indications, Vida said the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime received information placing Co in a specific location and inquiring whether an arrest warrant had been issued against him.

“Na baka ‘yung mga miyembro ng [United Nations Convention Against Corruption] ay kilala itong taong ito. Baka kayo ay may international arrest warrant tungkol sa taong ito,” he said.

“Kung wala naman sa kanila si former Congressman Zaldy Co bakit sila magtatanong? Bakit out of the blue, biglang — that’s one clear indication,” he added.

Vida acknowledged there is no physical evidence confirming the arrest, attributing this to strict data privacy rules in the European Union. He also noted that Czech authorities have not issued any confirmation.

“Under their rules, they do not confirm,” he said.

He added that the Philippine government is dispatching a team to the Czech Republic within the week to coordinate with relevant officials regarding Co’s status. Asked whether the team would request access to Co in detention, Vida said he would “play it by ear.”

The Justice secretary said authorities are exploring all legal avenues to facilitate Co’s return to the Philippines, expressing confidence that this will happen.

Vida cited both countries’ membership in the United Nations Convention Against Corruption as a basis for cooperation.

“Pag tinanong niyo, bakit confident si Secretary Vida? Ito po yung isang pinaghahawakan. Kasi alam ko po, alam natin, na sa Czech Republic, hindi din nila kinokonsinti ang korapsyon,” he said.

“Hindi din sila papayag na magiging, masasawata ‘yung objective na mapanagot ‘yung dapat mapanagot dahil nanaguan lang sa ibang bansa,” he added.

Co is facing graft and malversation charges linked to an alleged substandard P289-million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. He has denied the accusations.

In March, the Sandiganbayan upheld its ruling declaring Co a fugitive from justice.