Jamaine Punzalan

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

Article (news)

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/175696433079720220914-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/File </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED) </strong>— Ako Bicol party-list Rep. and former House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Zaldy Co is in the United States for “medical treatment”, based on the information received by House Spokesperson Atty. Princess Abante.</p><p>On Tuesday, House Senior Deputy Minority Leader Edgar Erice made a motion to invite Co and former Senate Finance Committee Chairperson Grace Poe to the House Infra Committee to determine why the proposed 2025 budget for the Department of Public Works and Highways increased by more than P100 billion compared to the proposal under the National Expenditure Program. But he later deferred his motion.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/2/motion-to-invite-co-poe-sparks-tension-in-house-hearing-on-flood-control-projects-1641">Motion to invite Co, Poe sparks tension in House hearing on flood control projects</a></div><p>Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco, meanwhile, accused Co of inserting P13.8 billion in the bicam version of the 2025 budget.</p><p>ABS-CBN News has been trying to get Co’s comment on the issue, but he has yet to respond.</p><p>“Sa pagkakaalam ko, he is currently out of the country. Nasa United States siya for medical treatment with appropriate travel documents,” Abante said in a press conference on Thursday.</p><p>She did not give further details on Co’s travel period.</p><p>Ako Bicol Party List Representative Alfredo Garbin Jr. also confirmed that Co is in the US, and that he believes his fellow party list representative left last week. “That’s confirmed. Hinatid niya ‘yung anak niya sa Boston University, and in time also for his regular check up doon. So, pagkahatid niya, ngayon, nagpa-check-up siya. But he was advised by the doctor to have an extensive check-up. Kasi, may na-mention sa akin na parang 90 over 60 ang baba daw ng blood pressure niya. So… may ika-conduct na extensive check-up sa kanya. So, he&#x27;s still in the United States as we speak,” Garbin said. He defended Co against Tiangco’s allegations.</p><p>&quot;Wala akong alam. Hindi ako part ng 19th Congress. But if you talk about General Appropriation Act, it&#x27;s not an act of just one member of Congress. That&#x27;s an act of Congress,” Garbin said. “That was approved by Congress and signed into law by the President and he himself participated, and cast his vote in the affirmative and it&#x27;s approval. Ngayon, kung may nakikita siyang illegality, ang hamon na lang natin siguro mag-file na lang siya ng kaso sa anumang korte at ilabas niya ‘yung kanyang mga ebidensya,” he challenged Tiangco.</p><p>Since the 20th Congress opened last July 28, House journals showed that Co was absent without notice in four session days, absent with notice once, and was attending committee meetings in four session days.</p><p>July 28 - absent without notice </p><p>July 29-30 - absent with notice </p><p>August 4 - absent without notice </p><p>August 5 - absent without notice </p><p>August 6 - absent without notice </p><p>August 11-13 - attended committee meetings </p><p>August 18 and 20 - attended committee meetings </p><p>August 26 - attended committee meetings </p><p>August 27 - attended committee meetings</p><p>Ang pagkakaalam po, hindi siya nag-appear to any committee hearings or session,” Garbin said. </p><p>But he gave assurances that Co’s absence does not affect the programs of their party list or the affairs of the Party List Coalition Foundation Incorporated, which he heads. </p><p>“In PCFI, we have four party leaders, including him, and kami, ‘yung de facto ngayon, ako, si Cong. Bong Teves, at si Jude Acidre, are the ones managing and taking care of the affairs of the PCFI,” Garbin said. </p><p>“Tuloy-tuloy po ‘yung aming programa, ‘yung core advocacy namin sa education, sa health, sa mga livelihood trainings, sa social services, and of course our active participation sa Kongreso,” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/2/house-kicks-off-own-inquiry-into-flood-control-controversy-1047">House Infra Comm to subpoena 5 contractors who skipped flood control probe</a></div><p>Erice had appealed to his colleagues at the House Infrastructure Committee “not to protect” anybody.</p><p>The House spokesperson denied there was such an effort. Abante reiterated House Infra Comm Co-Chair Terry Ridon’s assurance that if during the hearing, Co is implicated in the flood control anomalies the joint panel is investigating, he will be invited.</p><p>“Wala namang ganoong klase (pinoprotektahan) na galing sa House leadership. Tungkol doon sa hindi pag-imbita sa Infra Comm, na-clarify din naman siya ni Chairman Terry Ridon, na kaya hindi iimbitahan, because for that specific purpose that they want to invite Cong. Zaldy Co and including Sen. Grace Poe, because hindi siya kasama sa scope ng investigation ng Infra Comm. It was not relevant for the scope ng pag-uusapan ng Infra Comm. But it may be relevant in other venues, in other committees,” Abante said.</p><p>“The Infra Comm is committed to make sure that ‘yung mga dapat mapasagot sa anomalya ng flood control projects ay talagang isisiwalat at maa-address ng investigation na ito. Pero syempre may proseso. May dapat saklawan ayon sa mandato ng committee,” she added.</p><div><strong>DIVERTING THEISSUE? </strong></div><p>Garbin accused Tiangco of diverting the issue, and asked him to instead look into the flood control projects in his district, which were constructed by controversial contractors. </p><p>“‘Yung mga nananalo sa kontrata sa kanyang distrito sa Navotas ay yung St. Timothy, ‘yung Syms Construction na involved ngayon sa mga ghost project. Mukhang nililihis niya ‘yung issue without looking into his territorial jurisdiction,” Garbin said. </p><p>“If we are all about transparency, bakit si Cong. Tiangco hindi iniimbestigahan yung sarili niyang lugar?” he added. </p><p>Tiangco acknowledged that it is not impossible, but stressed that he never interfered in the bidding of government projects. </p><p>“Hindi naman imposibleng magkaroon sa Navotas, ‘di ba? Kasi sabi nga ng Presidente, nagtataka siya na sa buong Pilipinas, may proyekto itong mga contractor na ‘to,” Tiangco said. </p><p>“Ang maliwanag, never ako nakikialam sa bidding. I don&#x27;t even ask my DE (district engineer) kung sino ‘yung nanalo,” he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nTaM29b75qY" title="&#x27;Hayop ang gumawa dito!&#x27; Dizon nagalit sa Wawao Builders flood control project sa Bulacan" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_4sSdgDGlgw" title="St. Gerrard Construction ng Discayas, kinalampag, binato ng putik | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Ako Bicol party-list Rep. and former House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Zaldy Co is in the United States for “medical treatment”, based on the information received by House Spokesperson Atty. Princess Abante.</p>

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. and former House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Zaldy Co is in the United States for “medical treatment”, based on the information received by House Spokesperson Atty. Princess Abante.

Rep. Zaldy Co in US: House spox

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Rep. Zaldy Co in US: House spox

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 04, 2025 01:45 PM PHT

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Updated September 12, 2025 05:26 PM PHT

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House of Representatives

Zaldy Co

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