Zaldy Co resigns from House amid flood control probe
Metro Manila, Philippines - A principal figure in the flood control corruption has stepped down as lawmaker by going on a leave of absence from his party-list group on the same day the House of Representative ordered him to be back in the country to face the accusations.
In a letter addressed to House Speaker Bojie Dy and ethics committee chairman Rep. Jonathan Clement “JC” Abalos, Rep. Zaldy Co said he has stepped down as Ako Bicol representative on Monday, Sept. 29 noting the “real, direct, grave, and imminent threat” to him and his family and the “evident denial” of his right to due process.
The former lawmaker has yet to identify who will replace him from the party.
Co denied the accusations against him, including supposed budget insertions and his absence, which Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco noted in his ethics complaint against the former appropriations committee chairman.
“I did not mastermind, tolerate or allow any supposed last minute-insertions and realignments in items in the 2025 GAA (General Appropriations Act),” Co said. “It is improbable, if not absolutely impossible, that I, on my own, could make ‘insertions’ without the knowledge or approval of the members of both chambers of Congress.”
READ: Zaldy Co requested P13B projects for other districts - Tiangco
Commenting about his "unsubstantiated" absence since the 20th Congress began in July, the former legislator said a medical certificate is not required. Based on the latest information of the House, Co is in the United States for a medical treatment.
“In any event, I have been consulting doctors abroad since mid-2024 and have been continuing to consult with them. Also, even if I am physically absent from the Philippines, I continue to render public service remotely,” he said.
Dy said Co applied for a personal leave and not due to medical reasons.
“Sana suportahan niya ‘yung sinasabi niya na medical reason kung bakit ‘di siya makauwi. Sana man lang nagbigay ng medical certificate,” the Speaker said in a press briefing.
[Translation: I hope he supports his claim of a medical reason for his inability to return home. He could have at least submitted a medical certificate.]
Co also dismissed claims that he and his family indulge in extravagant displays of wealth, saying his lifestyle even before being a public official remains.
He insisted that he has not “received personal pecuniary interest” as a House member even as he was co-founder of government contractor Sunwest. While he said he divested from the company in 2019, reports said he is still a beneficial owner.
Sunwest is among the top flood control contractors nationwide, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has flagged.
Dy gave Co until Monday to return to the Philippines after revoking his travel authority. As of posting, they have no information on Co’s return.
Dy and Abalos said they lost jurisdiction over the former lawmaker despite Tiangco’s pending complaint.
“Since nag-resign na si Cong. Zaldy Co, wala nang ika nga karapatan ang Kongreso para maimbitahan siya at maanyayahan para um-attend sa committee ng ethics,” Dy said.
[Translation: Since Cong. Zaldy Co resigned, the Congress has no right to invite him to attend the committee on ethics.]
“Kahit na wala nang jurisdiction ang committee on ethics, hinihikayat po sana namin na harapin po niya ang mga kasong hinaharap niya dahil serious po ang mga allegations na ito,” Abalos said.
[Translation: Even if the committee on ethics has no jurisdiction over him, we encourage him to face the serious allegations.]
Co and 20 other lawmakers, Department of Public Works and Highways officials, and government contractors are recommended to be charged in relation to the flood control fiasco.
The Department of Justice said they are locating Co’s whereabouts, amid claims that he has hopped from one country to another, with the help of the International Criminal Police Organization.
