Rowegie Abanto

Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co. House of Representatives

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yDrO17DVXl0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The legal counsel of resigned congressman Zaldy Co said Thursday he did not approach President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to negotiate the looming passport cancellation of his client, denying claims of attempting to blackmail the administration.</p><p>In a video message on Wednesday, Marcos said that Co&#x27;s lawyer, whom the President did not name, tried to &quot;blackmail&quot; the government by saying they would no longer release <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/25/zaldy-co-tags-sandro-marcos-in-insertions-mess-1211">videos</a> if authorities do not cancel the former lawmaker&#x27;s passport. </p><p>Co has been releasing videos accusing Marcos and his relatives of wrongdoing, which they denied.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/26/marcos-jr-zaldy-co-trying-to-negotiate-with-government-to-keep-passport-1301">Marcos Jr.: Zaldy Co tried to &#x27;blackmail&#x27; admin to keep passport</a></div><p>Speaking on ANC, lawyer Ruy Rondain said neither he nor his staff reached out to the President&#x27;s office, calling Marcos&#x27; claims a &quot;ridiculous proposition&quot; because neither of them had anything to bargain for.</p><p>&quot;The Palace does not have control over the passport cancellation; that&#x27;s the prerogative of the Sandiganbayan,&quot; Rondain said.</p><p>&quot;Why would two parties bargain over something… that they don&#x27;t control? It does not make sense,&quot; he said.</p><p>Rondain added that he does not have control over the content and timing of the release of Co&#x27;s videos.  </p><p>Co — a former representative of the Ako Bicol party-list who has been out of the country since July — is the subject of an arrest warrant from the Sandiganbayan in relation to his alleged involvement in flood control corruption.</p><p>Under the New Philippine Passport Act, a court can order a passport canceled if the holder is convicted of a crime or is a fugitive from justice.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/26/what-happens-if-zaldy-co-stays-in-country-without-extradition-treaty-with-ph-1205">What happens if Zaldy Co stays in country that has no extradition treaty with PH?</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_fZ4cs8v664?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" spellcheck="false"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The lawyer of resigned congressman Zaldy Co said Thursday he did not approach President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to negotiate the looming passport cancellation of his client, denying claims of attempting to blackmail the administration.</p>

The lawyer of resigned congressman Zaldy Co said Thursday he did not approach President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to negotiate the looming passport cancellation of his client, denying claims of attempting to blackmail the administration.

'Ridiculous': Zaldy Co lawyer denies blackmail attempt vs Marcos gov't over passport cancellation

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'Ridiculous': Zaldy Co lawyer denies blackmail attempt vs Marcos gov't over passport cancellation

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 27, 2025 11:19 AM PHT

Read More:

Zaldy Co

Flood Control

Flood Control Corruption

Ruy Rondain

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