MISLEADING: Confusing statements on Zaldy Co case from PBBM, Palace 

A post circulating online claims that statements from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro suggest inaccuracies about Zaldy Co’s current whereabouts.

CLAIM:

The post emphasized that government statements about Co are inconsistent and conflicting, creating further confusion on whether he is truly arrested, released, or remains under custody.

RATING: MISLEADING

CONCLUSION:

Both statements are taken out of context and out of sequence. When viewed together, these statements reflect a developing situation rather than a contradiction.

THE FACTS:

• Initial reports indicated that Co had been “caught” in Czech Republic due to documentation issues. The report was then clarified that he had been stopped or held, not formally arrested under local law.
• Co was no longer under Czech custody but is now in France, and is seeking political asylum. He is currently under the jurisdiction of French authorities and is not detained.
• Individuals within Schengen areas may move across member countries while asylum applications are being processed. This explains why his exact locations have changed over time.

THE BOTTOMLINE:

The confusion among public arises from isolating statements without context. The information does not point to conflicting claims, but to updates in an ongoing case.