ZALDY Co would have been suspended and eventually expelled from the House if he continued to defy directives and failed to return home on Monday to face allegations against him.
This was revealed Monday evening by House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, who in a press briefing said that he was surprised when Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Alfredo “Pido” Garbin Jr. handed over the resignation letter of Co.
Speaker Dy told members of the media they had given Co until 12 am to return to the country and that the Committee on Ethics was ready to proceed with the case of Co if he failed to come home.
“At ang next step namin eh sana i-suspend namin si Congressman Zaldy… at kung hindi pa rin siya makikipag-cooperate, hanggang umabot na ma-expel.”
According to the Speaker, Co was given only until Monday to return to the Philippines, and had he failed to comply, the House Committee on Ethics was prepared to move forward with disciplinary action.
“Pero naghain nga ng kanyang resignation. Kaya ang tingin namin dito ay bahala na ang Department of Justice at ganun din ang ICI kung anong pwede nilang ipataw. Kailangan talagang bumalik siya eh sa lahat ng paraan na magawa. Dapat mapabalik siya at managutan siya sa mga issues laban kay Congressman Zaldy Co,” stressed Dy.
He added that “mariin kong sinasabi na kahit wala na siya sa House, pagtutulungan ng lahat na maibalik si Zaldy Co dito para harapin ang mga alegasyon laban sa kanya.”
In an interview Tuesday morning, the Speaker said he would speak with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to discuss all possible ways of ensuring Rep. Co’s immediate return. He also committed the House’s full cooperation with authorities in bringing him home.
