MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said the government must intensify efforts to bring back former congressman Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co after failing to secure his custody following his apprehension abroad.

Lacson, who also chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, said authorities missed a chance to take Co into custody despite being informed of his arrest by officials in the Czech Republic.

“Simply put, it was a lost opportunity and our government has nobody to blame except itself. Failing to act with dispatch after having been timely informed of ex-Cong. Zaldy Co’s apprehension by the Czech authorities now puts the government in an embarrassing situation,” he said.

“Government must now exert extra effort and work double time to bring him back not only to redeem itself from this lapse but to show its sincerity and seriousness in bringing Co and his co-conspirators to justice,” he added.

Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida earlier confirmed that Co is no longer under Czech custody after being held for immigration violations.

Vida said Co was accosted on April 16 but was later released and is currently somewhere in Europe.

Lacson earlier said he intends to invite Co to a future Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged flood control anomalies, noting that the former lawmaker could shed light on the issue.

“He has been described as the architect of the mess, by inserting and allocating funds particularly to the Department of Public Works and Highways,” he said.

Lacson added that once Co returns to the Philippines and obtains court clearance, he plans to have him attend the hearing and confront other individuals linked to the issue, including former soldiers such as Orly Guteza and even former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

“so we will find out who is truthful, who is telling half-truths, and who is lying.”