Zaldy Co faces ethics complaint
Metro Manila, Philippines - Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, who previously chaired the House appropriations panel, is facing an ethics complaint after he was implicated in the flood control scandal.
Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco filed the complaint at the House ethics committee on Monday, Sept. 23, noting that Co violated the Constitution, Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and House rules.
Tiangco earlier accused Co of inserting P13 billion in the closed-door bicameral conference committee, which reconciles the differing provisions in the Senate and House’s budget bills.
“He masterminded, tolerated, and deliberately allowed last-minute insertions and realignments,” the complaint, shared to the media on Tuesday, Sept. 23, read.
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Tiangco noted that “insertions bypassed priority projects” and that “certain foreign-assisted projects were diverted to unprogrammed appropriations.”
“The justification for these acts remain a mystery to every member because the Small Committee had no Committee reports, minutes of meeting, or any written explanation filed at the Archives of the House of Representatives. They remain as secrets and puzzles only Representative Co can explain,” the complaint stated.
Based on reports, Sunwest – which Co co-founded but divested from since 2019 – and its joint ventures bagged P86.1 billion in government infrastructure deals from 2016 to 2025.
“Representative Co could have acquired and received personal pecuniary interest during his incumbency as member of the House of [Representatives],” the complaint said.
Tiangco also stressed that Co has been absent in the House of Representatives since the opening of the 20th Congress in July.
While Co cited medical reasons, the Navotas lawmaker said there were no medical certificate copies submitted to the lower chamber and to the public.
“His absence remained unsubstantiated,” Tiangco wrote in the complaint.
House spokesperson Princess Abante earlier said Co is in the United States for a medical treatment.
House Speaker Bojie Dy has revoked the travel authority issued to Co, ordering him to return to the Philippines.
