Nelson Morales

House, gov't agencies urged to withhold Zaldy Co's clearances pending flood control probe

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- The House of Representatives and other relevant government agencies are urged to withhold the issuance of clearances to former lawmaker Zaldy Co, pending investigations into his alleged involvement in the flood control controversy.</p><p>Kamanggagawa Party List Representative Elijah San Fernando filed on Tuesday House Resolution 435, after receiving information that Co applied for accountability clearance at the lower chamber.</p><p>&quot;Noong nakita ko &#x27;yung dokumento, ay mayroon na lang isang department na hindi pumipirma, and that is the accounting department. So ngayon, kaya tayo nag-file ng resolution na ine-urge natin ang House… pati NBI and other agencies na mag-refrain sa pagbibigay ng accountability clearance, kasi pending pa &#x27;yung probe hinggil sa naging papel ni former representative Zaldy Co dito sa flood control anomaly, flood control scandal,&quot; San Fernando told the media after filing the resolution.</p><p>Co <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/29/zaldy-co-resigns-as-house-representative-amid-flood-control-scandal-1600">resigned from his position</a> as a member of the House of Representatives on September 29, after being tagged as among the alleged masterminds in the kickback scheme in the flood control projects.</p><p>House Speaker Faustino Dy III had earlier directed Co to return to the Philippines to answer the allegations against him. According to Co&#x27;s lawyer, the former congressman left the country in February &quot;for medical reasons,&quot; and is now &quot;deathly afraid&quot; to return amid &quot;serious threats&quot; to his life.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/6/zaldy-co-s-lawyer-says-accusations-against-client-must-be-specific-detailed-1628">READ: Zaldy Co’s lawyer says accusations against client must be specific, detailed</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/11/pangilinan-to-sponsor-independent-people-s-commission-bill-1512">READ: Zaldy Co &#x27;deathly afraid&#x27; to come home, won&#x27;t counter Ombudsman case -- lawyer</a></div><p>&quot;May clear defiance,&quot; San Fernando said of Co. &quot;Hindi niya na nga sinunod &#x27;yung order ng Speaker. Hindi niya na sinunod &#x27;yung pagsusumamo ng House na bumalik siya. Tapos ngayon, mababalitaan natin, ito nga, nag-a-apply ng accountability clearance.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Nawawala, napapahina nito &#x27;yung disciplining measures o kapangyarihan ng House na disiplinahin &#x27;yung kanyang mga miyembro o kanyang mga kasapi,&quot; he added. &quot;Kapag binigyan siya ng clearance, it&#x27;s as if the institution is letting him walk away scot-free.&quot;</p><p>He also questioned how Co&#x27;s application for accountability clearance is moving, even when he is reportedly out of the country.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Di ba &#x27;pag nag-a-apply tayo ng clearance, dapat present ka mismo? Mayroon bang nag-a-apply ng clearance in absentia? So, the question is, who is applying for the clearance of former representative Zaldy Co? Bakit gumugulong &#x27;yan?&quot; San Fernando asked.</p><p>House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil explained that the accountability clearance is a requirement for all House employees, who separate from service. But it is in relation with the return of office properties issued to them for use while in service.</p><p>&quot;All employees of the HRep are required to get their accountability clearance with  from the office after their separation from service. The clearance is with respect to properties issued to them for use while in office that they need to return,&quot; Garafil told ABS-CBN News in a text statement.</p><p>DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon had previously tagged Co and Sunwest Inc behind five of the seven substandard flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro.</p><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABraWpbAEikBn3tH"></script>

<p>The House of Representatives and other relevant government agencies are urged to withhold the issuance of clearances to former lawmaker Zaldy Co, pending investigations into his alleged involvement in the flood control controversy.</p>

The House of Representatives and other relevant government agencies are urged to withhold the issuance of clearances to former lawmaker Zaldy Co, pending investigations into his alleged involvement in the flood control controversy.