(BBCNews) A key suspect at the heart of a corruption scandal that sparked widespread anger in the Philippines has been arrested in the Czech Republic, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said.

Zaldy Co, a former lawmaker, was detained by authorities in Prague after crossing into the country “without proper documentation”, Marcos said on Thursday.

Massive protests erupted last year after widespread floods paralysed daily life across the country – sparking allegations that billion of dollars in funding for flood-control projects were lost to corruption.

Marcos has made holding corrupt officials to account a priority as some opinions polls show the scandal has hurt his popularity.

Co is among those who have been accused of earning kickbacks from such projects. He was a lawmaker in the House of Representatives from 2019 until his resignation last September. He has been out of the Philippines since July 2025, local media reported.