Viral Arrest Video Falsely Linked to Former Philippine Congressman Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co
The Claim and Its Viral Spread
In late December 2025, a video began circulating widely across Facebook[1], claiming to show the arrest of former Philippine congressman Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co. The footage depicts a masked man wearing a black hoodie being escorted by police officers into a white vehicle and later into a courtroom. Accompanying captions declared “Breaking News: Zaldy Co Arrested,” presenting the clip as proof that authorities had finally apprehended the embattled lawmaker. The timing of the posts significantly boosted their reach, as public anger was already high over revelations surrounding a massive graft scandal involving alleged misuse of funds[2] meant for flood control infrastructure projects across the Philippines.
Because Elizaldy Co has been at the center of intense scrutiny and has been officially declared a fugitive from justice, many viewers readily accepted the video as authentic evidence of his capture. However, closer examination reveals that the claim rests entirely on a false association between the footage and the individual named in viral captions.news/article/317149/First-charges-in-Philippine-flood-control-scandal-target-ex-lawmaker-officials
Official Position of Philippine Authorities
CyberPoe reviewed statements issued by Philippine authorities and verified reporting from international news agencies. On December 29, 2025, the Department of the Interior and Local Government publicly stated that reports of Elizaldy Co’s arrest were inaccurate. Officials clarified that no physical arrest had taken place and that Co was not in government custody. Law enforcement agencies further confirmed that Co remains outside the Philippines and has not been located despite ongoing efforts to track him.
This official position directly contradicts the viral narrative. If an arrest of such a high-profile fugitive had occurred, it would have been formally announced by authorities and covered extensively by major news outlets. No such confirmation exists.
The Legal Status of Elizaldy Co
Elizaldy Co’s legal troubles are real and serious, which likely contributed to the credibility of the false claim. On December 10, 2025, an anti-graft court formally declared him a fugitive from justice after police failed to find him during an attempted arrest at his Taguig City condominium
on November 22.[1] Court records show that law enforcement officers made a verified attempt to serve the arrest warrant but were unable to locate him.
Subsequent intelligence assessments shared with Philippine authorities suggest that Co may be hiding abroad, possibly in Portugal, and may be traveling on a Portuguese passport. These details underscore the fact that Co has not been arrested and remains outside the reach of Philippine law enforcement.
What the Video Actually Shows
A detailed reverse image and video search conducted by CyberPoe traced the viral footage to a report originally published by ABS-CBN News on November 26, 2025[1]. The clip documents the arrest and court escort of Montrexis Tamayo, an engineer from the Department of Public Works and Highways. Tamayo is also implicated in the same flood control graft scandal, but he is a separate suspect with a different legal status.
In the original context, the footage shows Tamayo being taken to the anti-graft court, which later ordered his detention at the Quezon City Jail.[2] The individuals, setting, and sequence of events in the viral clip match the ABS-CBN report exactly, leaving no doubt that the video has been repurposed and misidentified.
How Misinformation Took Hold
The miscaptioning of the video appears to be deliberate rather than accidental. By reusing real footage of an arrest related to the same corruption scandal, those sharing the clip capitalized on public outrage and the expectation that Zaldy Co would eventually be caught. The visual impact of police escort footage created a powerful illusion of accountability, even though the person shown was not the fugitive lawmaker.
Such tactics are increasingly common in misinformation campaigns, particularly during high-profile corruption cases. Old or unrelated visuals are recycled to manufacture a sense of resolution or progress, misleading audiences who may not verify original sources.
Why This Matters
False claims about arrests are not harmless. They distort public understanding of ongoing legal processes, undermine trust in institutions, and can reduce pressure on authorities by creating the false impression that justice has already been served. In corruption cases, accurate information is critical for transparency and accountability. Misleading content shifts attention away from verified facts and toward emotionally satisfying but false conclusions.
Conclusion
The viral video claiming to show the arrest of former congressman Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co is false. The footage depicts the arrest of Montrexis Tamayo, a different suspect in the same graft scandal, and was taken from a November 2025 news report. Elizaldy Co remains a fugitive from justice and is currently believed to be outside the Philippines.
CyberPoe’s verification confirms that this is a case of recycled footage being falsely linked to a prominent figure to mislead the public. Viewers are urged to verify identities, dates, and original sources before sharing arrest-related content, particularly in sensitive and high-stakes corruption investigations.
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