Statement of DILG Chief Remulla after Malacañang Confirmed Zaldy Co under French Authorities
DILG CHIEF – Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla admitted his “mistake” on his previous assessment in the pursuit to bring Zaldy Co back to the Philippines.
Public outrage continues as countless Filipino people demand accountability from the Philippine government over the alleged multi‑billion peso flood control corruption. Several officials of the government including House of Representative and Senate members were tagged in the flood control mess.
Several officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways were also named in the issue. It triggered protests that gathered thousands of Filipinos in the streets twice in 2025.
The flood control scam led to the conduct of the so-called “Trillion Peso March” where thousands of Filipinos including showbiz celebrities went to the streets to protest against corruption.
Among the government officials who are accused in the flood control scam is former Congressman Zaldy Co. He once chaired the House Budget Appropriations Committee. He resigned from being a member of the House amid the flood control accusations.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently announced that Zaldy Co had been taken into custody by the Czech authorities in Prague. He has left the country before the flood control controversy broke out and has yet to return.
Co also accused Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez of alleged involvement in budget manipulation. Malacañang firmly rejected the accusations of the former Congressman against the President.
According to Malacañang press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, Zaldy Co was allegedly attempting to derail the investigation by linking the President. The Philippine government has cancelled the passport of the former Congressman.
Previously, the Philippine National Police said that once Zaldy Co is back in the Philippines, his custody will be turned over by the Department of Foreign Affairs to the Department of Interior and Local Government which is led by DILG chief Jonvic Remulla. Afterwards, he will be under the custody of the PNP.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, DILG Chief Jonvic Remulla previously assessed that it might allegedly take “1 to 3 weeks” to deport Zaldy Co back to the Philippines. Recently, the Interior Secretary admitted that his assessment was a “mistake”..
“It was my mistake to assume that the process of repatriating individuals with insufficient travel documents were the same as that of the Philippines. Apparently they are not the same. My mistake,” the DILG Chief said as per the report.