Zaldy Co in the US for medical treatment - House spokesperson

Metro Manila, Philippines - Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co is in the United States for a medical treatment, House spokesperson Princess Abante said on Thursday, Sept. 4.

Based on a report, Co was absent with notice twice, absent without notice thrice, and excused seven times since the start of the 20th Congress.

“I made an initial inquiry sa [to the] Office of the Secretary General. Sa pagkakaalam ko [From what I know], he’s currently out of the country. I understand nasa [he is in the] United States siya for medical treatment with appropriate travel documents,” Abante said in a press briefing, noting that she has yet to obtain a copy of the documents.

Abante added that she has no information on the duration of Co’s travel.

Co, the House appropriations committee chairman in the previous Congress, has been accused by Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco to have inserted P13 billion worth of government projects through the closed-door meeting of the bicameral conference committee.

Tiangco is pushing the House infrastructure committee to invite Co in the inquiry in the alleged anomalous flood control projects. But, panel co-chairman Rep. Terry Ridon said Co will be invited if he is implicated.

Co founded Sunwest, a conglomerate primarily engaged in construction, among others. The congressman divested from the firm in 2019. The firm is among the top contractors that cornered flood control projects nationwide.

Tiangco also claimed the House leadership is protecting Co. But Abante said: “Wala namang ganu’ng klase galing sa [Nothing like that came from the] House leadership.”