Malacañang on Saturday said authorities continue searching for former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co despite the Sandiganbayan’s decision to archive his case,.

It emphasized that the outstanding warrant for his arrest remains in force and law enforcers are still obligated to locate him.

Speaking to reporters at the Sutton Place Hotel in Canada, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the government has not eased its efforts to find Co, stressing that he remains an important figure in the ongoing proceedings and must answer the accusations against him.

“The obligation to search for Zaldy Co has not been neglected because, as has been pointed out, he is a very important witness. It is also important for him to answer the allegations being leveled against him,” Castro said.

Castro explained that the court’s decision to archive the case should not be interpreted as a dismissal or a permanent termination of the proceedings. Instead, she said, it is a procedural step that places the case on inactive status until the accused becomes available to face trial.

She added that once Co is arrested and falls under the jurisdiction of the court, the proceedings will immediately resume.

“Let us remember that he himself is facing charges and has a pending warrant of arrest,” Castro said. “Once Zaldy Co is arrested, the case will be revived and returned to the active docket.”

According to Castro, the temporary suspension of court proceedings does not alter the government’s responsibility to pursue the case or diminish the legal consequences facing the former lawmaker.

She also underscored the administration’s commitment to holding individuals accountable, regardless of delays resulting from an accused person’s absence.

“When we say a case is archived, it simply means it is removed from the active cases scheduled for hearing and placed under archived status,” Castro said.

“So even if he has been away from the Philippines for a long time, once he is arrested, the case will move forward,” she added.

The Sandiganbayan Seventh Division earlier ordered the case against Co archived until the accused becomes available to face the charges.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed a graft case against Co in November 2025 in connection with the alleged irregularities involving a P289-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

Co previously served as chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations during the deliberations and final approval of the 2025 national budget.