Rowegie Abanto

Rep. Elizaldy Co chairs the House Committee on Appropriations on September 14, 2022. Press and Public Affairs Bureau handout/File 

 

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Rep. Elizaldy Co

 

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<div> </div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17580732125231758073210621.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Rep. Elizaldy Co on September 14, 2022. <em>Press and Public Affairs Bureau handout/File </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co should be brought back to the Philippines, &quot;forcibly if necessary,&quot; House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno of Antipolo said Wednesday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/17/speaker-martin-romualdez-stepping-down-confirms-puno-0806">Speaker Martin Romualdez stepping down, confirms Puno</a></div><p>Co, who is <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/4/rep-zaldy-co-in-us-house-spox-1345">reportedly in the United States</a>, has been accused of proposing billions of pesos in insertions in the 2025 national budget that funded some allegedly anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects. He denied the allegations.</p><p>Having previously chaired the House Committee on Appropriations, Co has been <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/9/house-invites-grace-poe-zaldy-co-in-flood-control-inquiry-1305">invited </a>to the House Infrastructure Committee&#x27;s inquiry into the flood control scandal to answer the corruption accusations against him.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/8/disacayas-says-corrupt-officials-used-them-in-anomalous-bidding-1114">Discaya couple says lawmakers, DPWH execs &#x27;used&#x27; them in flood control anomalies</a></div><p>&quot;What is the plan on Zaldy Co? Well, you know, in Congress, we&#x27;re saying that he should be brought back, forcibly if necessary,&quot; Puno said in an ANC interview.</p><p>&quot;Initial reports [say] that he was in the US. And I saw some posts where he is supposed to be in a house, he changed his name, and things like that. But in the US, we can extradite people, and what is important now is cases need to be filed,&quot; he added.</p><p>The Philippines has an extradition treaty with the US, and both countries can <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/27/-we-were-shocked-arnolfo-teves-arrested-in-timor-leste-0758">request the extradition of a person charged</a> or convicted of a crime.</p><p>&quot;This is not a legislative inquiry issue anymore, I think this is a criminal thing. Cases have to be filed,&quot; said Puno.</p><p>&quot;I hope that cases will be filed and people will be jailed,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/16/agri-chief-explains-revelations-on-zaldy-co-in-house-budget-hearing-1642">Agri chief says revelations on Zaldy Co meant to defend import system</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/9/curlee-discaya-denies-direct-ties-to-romualdez-co-in-alleged-corruption-scheme-1152">Curlee Discaya denies direct ties to Romualdez, Co in alleged corruption scheme</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><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/q5qP6CUQUw4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></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/yYoMJUDLzk8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Rep. Zaldy Co should be brought back to the Philippines, "forcibly if necessary," House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno said Wednesday. </p>

Rep. Zaldy Co should be brought back to the Philippines, "forcibly if necessary," House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno said Wednesday.

Zaldy Co should be brought back to PH, 'forcibly if necessary,' says Puno

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Zaldy Co should be brought back to PH, 'forcibly if necessary,' says Puno

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 17, 2025 09:46 AM PHT

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Updated September 17, 2025 09:47 AM PHT

Read More:

Ronaldo Puno

Zaldy Co

Flood Control

Martin Romualdez

House of Representatives

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