Lawyer Harry Roque also trended on social media following the arrest of former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co in Prague, as he faces a human trafficking case linked to an alleged scam hub in Pampanga.
Co, who has been out of the country since 2025, was apprehended in Prague after crossing the Czech Republic without proper documentation.
The update was provided by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who shared the development on his social media accounts on Thursday, April 16.
“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,” the chief executive said.
The following day, Marcos provided more information, saying that Co was “stopped at the German border after entering from the Czech Republic.”
“He was denied entry and returned to Czech authorities, where he remains in custody,” the president added.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Co may return to the Philippines within one to three weeks as the Department of Foreign Affairs works with the Czech authorities to expedite his extradition.
Remulla said Co was spotted in Italy three weeks ago and had been moving around to avoid detection. He was arrested after his passport was canceled.
The DILG chief added that the ex-lawmaker did not have his Portuguese passport and travel document with him, prompting authorities to take him into custody.
Co will be detained at Camp Crame upon arrival in the Philippines and will be arraigned before the Sandiganbayan court.
The former lawmaker is a central figure in the multibillion-peso flood control corruption scandal exposed last year, in which funds for flood control projects were allegedly siphoned off by some lawmakers and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Among the allegations were reports of suitcases containing cash being delivered to Co’s residences, each reportedly worth millions of pesos.
Meanwhile, another personality who was talked about following the former lawmaker’s arrest was Roque, who has likewise been evading Philippine authorities since his alleged involvement with a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Porac.
“Harry Roque and Bato next,” an online user wrote, also referring to Sen. Bato dela Rosa, who has not been seen in public amid reports of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over his alleged involvement in the drug war and has been absent from Senate sessions.
“Next Harry Roque, Atong Ang, Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva, et al.,” another commented in response to Co’s arrest.
“So, nahuli na si Zaldy Co. Si Harry Roque, kailan kaya?” a different Pinoy asked.
“Harry Roque naman,” another wrote.
“Harry Roque naman next, please!!!” a different X user said.
“I just hope due process takes its course with Harry Roque. He’s been trolling for far too long,” another Pinoy said.
Roque’s passport was canceled by the Department of Foreign Affairs last November.
The former presidential spokesperson left the Philippines in September 2024 after being cited for contempt for refusing to attend Senate hearings on POGO sites allegedly being used as fronts for criminal activities.
He later sought asylum in the Netherlands, citing alleged political persecution, with the latest reports indicating he is believed to be in Austria.
Roque is now facing non-bailable human trafficking charges in connection with his alleged ties to the scam POGO hub, Lucky South 99, where he served as legal counsel.
The POGO hub reportedly participated in scams, torture, kidnapping, and human trafficking, with over 180 foreign individuals and Filipino workers rescued from the compound in 2024.
Ramil Madriaga, self-confessed former bagman of Vice President Sara Duterte, also claimed Roque allegedly grabbed land from Bataan farmers for the latter’s POGO partners.
Roque, in response, said that Madriaga was “not a credible source,” adding he had no prior knowledge of the vice president’s former aide.
In 2020, Roque had a “slip of the tongue” after he appeared to say that POGOs are a “cash resource” to then-President Rodrigo Duterte.
— with reports from Philstar.com/Ian Laqui and Jean Mangaluz
