Duterte vs Castro: Zaldy Co Nahuli o Aresto Issue? | Michael Say, Morgan Say and Solomon Say

MANILA – The Palace on Monday defended President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s earlier statements on Zaldy Co, saying these were truthful and “not premature.” The President announced on social media that Co was held by Czech authorities in Prague last April 16. But criticisms and questions on the status of Co grew in the past few days as the high-level delegation from the Philippines was unable to confirm his whereabouts. "Ano ba ang inanunsiyo ni Pangulo? Hindi po ba ang inanunsiyo ng Pangulo unang-una ay nahuli si Zaldy Co – totoo naman ‘di po? Nasa kustodiya ng Czech Republic si Zaldy Co, totoo naman at ang sabi ng Pangulo nakikipag-coordinate tayo sa Czech Republic, totoo naman – so, anong premature doon? Walang premature doon," Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said. Zaldy Co arrested, detained in Prague, Marcos confirms Castro said that the President did not use the term “arrested” in his announcement. "Unang-una, kung mapapansin ninyo po, April 16 unang nag-post ang Pangulo ng kaniyang mensahe, 'Nahuli na si Zaldy Co.' Kapag sinabi nating nahuli na si Zaldy Co, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is an arrest," Castro told reporters. "Ang 'nahuli' na salita ay very general. So, kapag nahuli, puwede nating sabihin na napahinto, na-stop, na-prevent sa pagkilos, at hindi mali ang Pangulo sa kaniyang inulat noong April 16," Castro added. She added that Palace briefings did not use the word "arrest" and that the PCO article that reported Co was arrested had been corrected. The Palace press officer said the Czech Republic has strict rules in the usage of the term "arrest", unlike the Philippines where "nahuli" and "naaresto" are used interchangeably. "Noong nalaman na hindi ito ang terminong ginagamit ng Czech Republic, iyan po naman ay ating iginalang at pina-correct na lang po natin nang naaayon din po sa nais na salita o termino ng Czech Republic. Dahil nga po hindi lamang iisang bansa ang involved dito, hindi lamang tayo ang involved dito, may ibang bansa na kailangan din po nating igalang ang polisiya," she said. The Palace officer also defended the timing of the announcement. "Sabi nga natin sa bawat kilos ni Zaldy Co at nalaman ng gobyerno mas magandang ipaalam sa inyo kaysa sa iba ninyo pa malaman. Kapag nalaman namin at hindi namin inanunsiyo, sasabihin ninyo naman sa amin, ‘Bakit hindi inanunsiyo?’ So, mas magandang ianunsiyo namin pero hindi namin sinabi agad na mahuhuli kaya nga ang sabi dito, nakikipag-coordinate ang Pilipinas sa Czech Republic," Castro said. Castro declined to disclose who provided the President with the initial information but maintained that due diligence was observed before the announcement. "Sa ngayon po ay hindi ako makakapagsalita kung sino ang nagbigay sa kaniya ng report na ito. Pero maingat po ang Pangulo sa pagbibigay ng anunsiyo sa ating taumbayan kaya huwag ipahid sa Pangulo ang salitang aresto dahil hindi po niya iyan ginamit," Castro said. Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida and Chief State Counsel Dennis Chan are in Prague to coordinate with Czech authorities regarding Co’s case. Castro said she was not aware if the President and Vida had talked about developments in Prague, but said the government remained hopeful Co would be brought home soon. "Sino ba naman ang hindi dapat maging hopeful? Lahat tayo dapat hopeful. Ang gusto natin ay maiuwi dito si Zaldy Co at iyon ang nais ng Pangulo," Castro said. https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2026/4/2...