Former Philippine lawmaker arrested in Prague for corruption
前菲律賓國會議員在布拉格因貪污被捕
On April 16, 2026, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed the arrest of former lawmaker Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co in Prague, Czech Republic.
2026年4月16日，菲律賓總統小費迪南德·馬可仕證實，前國會議員伊薩爾迪·「薩爾迪」·科（Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co）已於捷克布拉格被捕。
Co, a central figure in a massive corruption scandal, had been a fugitive for nine months.
科身為一樁巨額貪汙醜聞的核心人物，已潛逃長達九個月。
The investigation centers on over 9,800 infrastructure projects, including flood-control systems, valued at approximately $9 billion, many of which were found to be substandard or non-existent.
該調查集中在超過9800項基礎建設工程，其中包括價值約90億美元的防洪系統，許多工程被發現標準不符或根本未曾存在。
Despite the lack of an extradition treaty between the Philippines and the Czech Republic, the government is working closely with Czech officials to ensure his repatriation to face trial.
儘管菲律賓與捷克之間並無引渡條約，但政府正與捷克官員密切合作，以確保他能被遣返受審。
This arrest represents a significant milestone in the administration’s crackdown on corruption within public works.
這次逮捕象徵著政府對公共工程貪汙執法的一大里程碑。
Public outrage remains high, as these projects are critical for protecting the country from frequent, devastating typhoons.
公眾憤怒情緒持續高漲，因為這些項目對於保護該國免受頻繁且具毀滅性颱風的侵害至關重要。
The case highlights the government's push for legislative accountability and serves as a warning against the misuse of public funds, underscoring the vital importance of infrastructure integrity for national safety.
此案突顯了政府推動立法問責的決心，並對濫用公款者提出警告，強調基礎建設完整性對於國家安全的重要性。
