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/175920689247620220914-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. Press and Public Affairs Bureau handout </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Ako Bicol party-list on Tuesday said its <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/29/zaldy-co-resigns-as-house-representative-amid-flood-control-scandal-1600">resigned </a>representative Zaldy Co should be accorded due process to answer allegations linking him to irregularities in certain flood control projects.</p><p>Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. said Co should “be presumed innocent” until proven guilty.</p><p>“Ako Bicol party-list stands united behind him, lalung-lalo na in this most difficult time. And we call on the public to give Cong. Zaldy Co the due process, which he is entitled to sa lahat ng allegations sa kanya,” Garbin said.</p><p>“Since hindi pa nga umuusad ang kaso, ang panawagan namin na mabigyan din ng due process si Congressman Zaldy Co, and not to be tried by, we call it trial by publicity, na kumbaga convicted ka na sa mata ng taumbayan,” he said.</p><p>He noted that there were no pending cases yet against Co before the courts.</p><p>“And sa ngayon, lahat lang imbestigasyon and those are just accusations that have to be proven yet in the courts of law or in any quasi-judicial bodies… But as of now, this remains as all accusations, and as you know, he is entitled to his presumption of innocence,” Garbin said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/29/resignation-shields-zaldy-co-from-house-ethics-probe-doj-urged-to-take-over-1938">Resignation shields Zaldy Co from House ethics probe; DOJ urged to take over</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>EVADING ACCOUNTABILITY?</strong></div><div><br/></div><p><strong></strong>House Speaker Faustino &quot;Bojie&quot; Dy III had revoked Co&#x27;s travel clearance and ordered him to return to the Philippines. </p><p>Navotas District Rep. Toby Tiangco, who filed an ethics complaint against Co last week over his alleged budget insertions, said Tuesday the 10-day deadline for Co to return to the country had lapsed on Monday. </p><p>The Navotas lawmaker surmised that Co&#x27;s resignation was intended to evade the House ethics committee, which would have heard the complaint against him.</p><p>Dy on Monday said that while the resignation of Co does not absolve him of accountability, it effectively strips the lower chamber of jurisdiction to summon him before the House Ethics Committee.</p><p>Co tendered his resignation hours before the ethics panel was set to deliberate on the complaints against him, averting possible suspension or even expulsion.</p><p>&quot;Ang nangyari, instead of being accountable, iniwasan niya ulit. Doon pa lang sa ethics committee ayaw na niya maging accountable, so papaano natin siya aasahan maging accountable doon sa ICI (Independent Commission on Infrastructure) kahit sinasabi niyang haharapin ang mga kaso, hindi naman niya hinaharap,&quot; Tiangco told ANC.</p><p>Co had left the Philippines to supposedly get medical treatment in the United States. He has yet to return.</p><p>&quot;Hindi man lang niya sinasabi ano medical condition niya at hindi siya makabalik. Hindi siya nagbibigay ng med cert. So, nung una sinasabi niya medical reason, ngayon safety of his family,&quot; Tiangco added.</p><p>&quot;Iba na agad ang dahilan, hindi na consistent ang sinasabi niya. Ang ginagawa lang, iniiwasan talagang umuwi at sumagot sa mga bagay na dapat niyang ipaliwanag.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHO WILL REPLACE CO?</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Ako Bicol third nominee Atty. Jan Almario Chan will replace Co as the party-list’s representative, according to Garbin.</p><p>He expects Ako Bicol to issue a resolution on the matter and inform the Commission on Elections within the week.</p><p>The Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. at the House of Representatives will meet next week to elect Co’s replacement as its president, Garbin said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SOCIAL SERVICES</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Garbin admitted that the social services initiated by Ako Bicol party-list were affected by the issues surrounding Co.</p><p>“This 2025 po, nakatengga po ‘yung aming mga initiated social services… Sana po, ‘yun din po ang aking pinapakiusap sa different agencies na ma-lift na po ‘yun at maibigay na sa aming mga constituency,” Garbin said.</p><p>“Well, affected po and that&#x27;s why I&#x27;m talking to different agencies and especially to the House leadership na kung pwede, maipagpatuloy pa rin namin,” he added.</p><p>Co 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. He previously tagged these claims as “false, baseless, and politically charged”.</p><div><iframe width="923" height="519" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ebClyk02SaU" title="&#x27;He&#x27;ll be a fugitive&#x27;: Remulla dudang babalik pa si Zaldy Co sa Pilipinas | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="923" height="519" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LyU42rhm8aI" title="Zaldy Co, 16 opisyal ng DPWH at Sunwest pinakakasuhan ng ICI sa Ombudsman | TV Patrol" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>House Speaker Faustino &quot;Bojie&quot; Dy III had revoked Co&#x27;s travel clearance and ordered him to return to the Philippines</p>

<p>Ako Bicol party-list on Tuesday said its resigned representative Zaldy Co should be accorded due process to answer allegations linking him to irregularities in certain flood control projects.</p>

Ako Bicol party-list on Tuesday said its resigned representative Zaldy Co should be accorded due process to answer allegations linking him to irregularities in certain flood control projects.

Ako Bicol party-list calls for due process for Zaldy Co; Jan Almario Chan to replace resigned solon

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Ako Bicol party-list calls for due process for Zaldy Co; Jan Almario Chan to replace resigned solon

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 30, 2025 12:59 PM PHT

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Updated Sep 30, 2025 01:16 PM PHT

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