Zaldy Co FILE

Former Ako Bicol party-list representative and businessman Elizaldy Co has been detained in Prague after allegedly entering the Czech Republic without proper travel documentation, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in a Facebook post.

According to Marcos, Co is currently in the custody of Czech authorities while legal procedures are being observed. He added that the Philippine government is coordinating with Czech officials to ensure proper handling of the case and to facilitate Co’s eventual return to the Philippines.

“We are in close coordination with the Czech government to ensure that all legal processes are followed and to arrange for his return to the Philippines at the soonest possible time. We will keep the public informed as developments unfold,” Marcos said in his post.

Co served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025 under the Ako Bicol party-list. He also chaired the House Committee on Appropriations during the 19th Congress, a key post that oversees the national budget.

Before his political career, Co was known as the founder and chief executive officer of Sunwest Group of Companies and chairman of Misibis Bay Resort in Albay, building a major business presence in the Bicol region.

He has previously been linked to various allegations involving government infrastructure projects, though details of these claims have not been independently confirmed in connection with his reported detention.

Authorities have yet to release further details regarding the circumstances of his detention in Prague, including possible extradition or other legal proceedings.