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The claim

Resigned Ako Bicol partylist Rep. Zaldy Co and former House speaker Martin Romualdez were arrested and are now facing imprisonment.

Rating

False

Reviewed by Vera Files ↗ ·

Original fact check ↗

PeakMetrics research summary

Based on related reporting.

Related reporting does not establish that Co and Romualdez were arrested or are facing imprisonment. A November 18 report said Co remained abroad; on December 10, 2025, the Sandiganbayan declared Co a fugitive from justice and ordered his passport cancelled, while the report said the government had yet to request a Red Notice. The supplied excerpts do not report Romualdez’s arrest or either man facing imprisonment.[S4][S6]

Research date:

Sources and attribution

  1. [original] Vera Files original review

    Original review · Retrieved October 16, 2026

  2. [S4] Speaker Dy reiterates call to Zaldy Co to return home

    Additional research · Retrieved October 16, 2026

  3. [S6] Zaldy Co now ‘fugitive from justice’

    Additional research · Retrieved October 16, 2026