Jamaine Punzalan

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

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CONGRESS-DEPED

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<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/175886308597320220914-congress-deped-PPAB--11.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Rep. Elizaldy Co chairs the House Committee on Appropriations on September 14, 2022. <em>Press and Public Affairs Bureau handout</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co has written to House Speaker Faustino Dy III to signify his plan to return to the Philippines and refute the allegations against him &quot;in the proper forum. </p><p>Co, former chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations, was accused of “masterminding” last-minute insertions in the allegedly “highly irregular” 2025 national budget, and of supposedly receiving kickbacks from flood control projects, which he denied.</p><p>Last week, Dy revoked Co’s travel clearance and gve him until September 29 to return to the country and “address pressing national matters” or risk facing disciplinary and legal actions. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/24/-zaldy-co-s-son-urges-him-to-come-home-face-allegations-i-am-speaking-out-against-my-father-2319">Zaldy Co&#x27;s son urges him to come home, face allegations: &#x27;I am speaking out against my father&#x27;</a></div><p>“I have every intention of returning to the Philippines. I am also intent on belying the false claims made against me before the proper forum,” Co said in a letter received by Dy’s office on Thursday night.</p><p>“I hope that when I return to the Philippines, I would be afforded due process and that you would ensure the safety of my family and me,” he added.</p><p>Co tagged as “false, baseless, and politically-charged” the allegations made against him, including the insinuation that he, “on his own”, had <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/23/tiangco-files-ethics-complaint-against-zaldy-co-over-flood-control-insertions-1515">made “insertions”</a> in the entries in the Bicameral Report and the proposed 2025 General Appropriations Act.</p><p>“The insinuations are, of course, untrue, since the Bicameral Report and the 2025 GAA were approved by both Houses of Congress at Plenary sessions and following the collegial process,” Co said.</p><p>“The false, baseless, and politically-charged statements recently made before the Senate of the Philippines, the House of Representatives, and the media have condemned me in the court of public opinion and have stirred public hatred against my family and me. This has caused the public to condemn and prejudge me even though no complaint before the proper fora has been filed against me,” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/senators-call-out-dbm-s-instant-release-of-funds-for-alleged-zaldy-co-insertions-1531">Senators call out DBM&#x27;s &#x27;instant&#x27; release of funds for alleged Zaldy Co insertions</a></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fphoto.php%3Ffbid%3D1290987743076479%26set%3Da.650104283831498%26type%3D3&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="748" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Co reiterated his assertion that he did not receive funds from the infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways.</p><p>“I received no funds in connection with DPWH projects,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/romualdez-denies-receiving-suitcases-of-money-from-co-s-ex-security-consultant-1832">Romualdez denies receiving suitcases of money from Co&#x27;s ex-security consultant</a></div><p>The lawmaker also denied that his family owns the aircraft used to ferry former President Rodrigo Duterte to the Hague.</p><p>“My family and I do not own this aircraft, and this is something that could easily be verified from checking the aircraft registry,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/24/dizon-seeks-freeze-order-on-co-s-nearly-p5-billion-air-assets-0926">Dizon seeks freeze order on Co&#x27;s nearly P5-billion air assets</a></div><p>Co further denied requesting fish import allocations for his supposed company, “ZC Victory Fishing Corporation”.</p><p>“I made no such request and have nothing to do with this company. Upon verification, the ‘ZC’ stands for ‘Zamboanga City’, not ‘Zaldy Co’, as the politician tried to insinuate,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/15/zaldy-co-pressured-da-to-issue-fish-import-allocations-to-3-firms-agri-chief-says-2020">Zaldy Co pressured DA to issue fish import allocations to 3 firms, agri chief says</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>GRAVE CONCERN</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Co expressed “sadness and grave concern” on the decision to revoke his travel clearance, supposedly without seeking his explanation on the claims against him. He said it appeared that the House Speaker’s office already “prejudged” him.</p><p>“I am saddened that my colleagues in the House of Representatives would deprive me of the time needed for medical care that I have long previously scheduled and gravely concerned that the decision to revoke my travel clearance was borne by pressure, rather than adherence to facts and procedures,” Co said.</p><p>“Yet, I am very much apprehensive about what awaits me, should I return to the Philippines, given that the public and your good office have prejudged me. This is evident from, among others, the revocation of my approved travel clearance without even first requesting for an explanation from my side,” he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>NO PREJUDICE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Dy told Co that the revocation of his travel clearance “should not be construed as prejudgment, but as a necessary opportunity to answer the allegations against you directly, and in the proper forum.” </p><p>“Aside from the issues that have been raised against you, you also face a complaint that is now with the House Committee on Ethics. Coming home will allow you to respond to this complaint, as well as to fully present and elaborate on the defenses you outlined in your letter,” Dy added.</p><p>“We reiterate that the only proper way to address these matters is not through correspondence from abroad, but by returning, appearing at the proper forum, and answering the charges directly,” he said. </p><p>If Co fails to return to the country by Monday, September 29, it shall be construed as “refusal to subject to the lawful processes of the House, and will result in the initiation of appropriate disciplinary and legal actions,” according to the House Speaker.</p><p>Dy said Co’s letter has been referred to the House Committee on Ethics. </p><p>He also gave assurances that the House would coordinate with the proper authorities to secure Co and his family’s safety, should he choose to return to the country.</p><div><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/axmpAlbMKc4" title="Bagong testigo, idiniin sina Zaldy Co, Martin Romualdez sa umano&#x27;y kickbacks sa DPWH | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o8AWV347tSw" title="VP Sara questions why gov&#x27;t can&#x27;t bring back Zaldy Co to PH | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co has written to House Speaker Faustino Dy III to signify his plan to return to the Philippines and refute the “false claims” on his alleged hand in flood control anomalies.</p>

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co has written to House Speaker Faustino Dy III to signify his plan to return to the Philippines and refute the “false claims” on his alleged hand in flood control anomalies.

Zaldy Co tells Speaker: ‘I have every intention of returning to PH’

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Zaldy Co tells Speaker: ‘I have every intention of returning to PH’

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 26, 2025 01:07 PM PHT

|

Updated September 26, 2025 07:23 PM PHT

Read More:

DPWH

corruption

flood control

baha

Zaldy Co

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