Attorney Ralph Sarmiento, an international law expert, said that it would be difficult for Zaldy Co to obtain asylum in the Czech Republic.
Sarmiento explained that asylum is granted only to a person who can present sufficient evidence of a real and well‑founded fear of persecution due to politics, religion, or other beliefs. He pointed out that in Co’s case, he is being pursued by the Philippine government because of pending criminal cases related to graft and corruption, and not because of political persecution.
He further noted that if Co applies for asylum only now, after his reported detention for possible violations of immigration laws, it may be seen as too late and merely a defense against his case. Sarmiento clarified that if there were a strong basis for asylum, it should have been pursued much earlier.
