Representative Elizaldy Co of Ako Bicol Party List.
AKO-BICOL party-list Rep. Zaldy Co is currently in the United States for medical treatment, according to House of Representatives spokesperson Atty. Princess Abante.
Abante made the statement in response to inquiries about the whereabouts of Co, the former chair of the Appropriations Committee who led the House’s discussions and approval of the 2025 national budget last year.
Co, who was re-elected in the May elections, has not been present in the House since the start of the 20th Congress in July.
“Based on my initial inquiry before the Office of the House Secretary General [Reginald Velasco], he is currently out of the country,” Abante told reporters.
“I understand he is in the United States for medical treatment, with appropriate travel documents,” she added. However, Abante stated that she did not yet have information on the dates of Co’s travel authority or clearance.
Co resigned from his position as chairman of the appropriations panel in January, citing health reasons.
Recently, Navotas Representative Tobias Tiangco accused Co of being the proponent behind the inclusion of billions of pesos worth of infrastructure projects in the P6.3 trillion national budget for 2025. Tiangco wants Co summoned in connection with the ongoing House investigation into alleged anomalous flood control projects.
However, House Infrastructure Committee chairperson and Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon stated that Co would be invited if there is verified information linking the lawmaker to the anomalous projects.
Co was previously part of Sunwest Corporation but reportedly left the company after running for office in 2019. Sunwest Corporation is one of the top 15 contractors that secured over P500 billion worth of flood control projects named by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
