Zaldy Co in US for 'health reasons' —House spox

Ako-Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co is in the United States for medical treatment, House spokesperson and lawyer Princess Abante said Thursday.

Abante was responding to queries on Co’s whereabouts, given that the lawmaker, who was elected to his third term as Ako Bicol party-list Representative last May, has yet to be seen in the House of Representatives since it opened its session last July 28.

“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,” Abante added.

Abante, however, said she has no information just yet on the dates covering the travel authority or clearance issued to Co.

In Tina Panganiban Perez’s Thursday report on “24 Oras,” Ako Bicol party-list Rep Alfredo Garbin Jr. confirmed Co’s departure to the US, saying that the latter accompanied his child to Boston University. 

“So pagkahatid niya, ngayon nagpapacheck up siya. 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, he’s still in the United States, as we speak,” Garbin said.

(Co went for a checkup after accompanying his child to school. He was advised by the doctor to have an extensive check-up because he has low blood pressure. So, he’s still in the United States, as we speak.)

Garbin added Co left the country last week, but he is unaware when the latter will return.

Co previously served as the House appropriations panel chairperson from July 2022 to January 2025. 

Co, however, stepped down from his post as House appropriations panel chairperson in January this year due to health reasons. 

Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco has accused Co of pushing for the inclusion of billions worth of infrastructure projects under the P6.3 trillion national budget for 2025 and wants to question Co before the ongoing House probe on flood control projects. 

House Infra Comm lead chairperson and Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, however, said that the three-panel House probe on anomalous flood control projects will invite Co provided that there is verifiable information that he is indeed linked to anomalous projects.

“If that pertains to the budget of 2025, then that’s an act of Congress that was approved by Congress and signed into law by the President. And he, himself, participated and cast his vote in the affirmative and its approval,” Garbin said in the “24 Oras” report.

“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 added.

(If he sees something illegal, I challenge him to file a case in any court and present all the pieces of evidence.)

In response, Tiangco said, “Huwag niya akong sabihan kung ano gagawin ko. Gagawin ko kung ano gusto ko. Gawin nila kung anong gusto nilang gawin.”

(He should not tell me what to do. I'll do what I want. They can do whatever they want.)

“Kung sinasabi niya malicious insinuations, ganon na bang kamanhid na kami na hindi namin nararamdaman 'yung galit ng tao? Ibig sabihin ba wala nang issue ng corruption sa Kongreso? Ako lang ba nagsasabi? Siguro lumabas labas sila. Makinig sila sa tao. Sobra na ang galit ng tao sa amin,” he added.

(If they’re implying malicious insinuations, are we really that numb not to feel the anger of the people? Does it mean there’s no issue of corruption in Congress? Am I the only one pointing it out? Maybe they need to go out and listen to the people. They are really angry.)

Co was previously part of Sunwest Corporation, which he has since divested from when he ran for public office in 2019.

Sunwest Corporation is one of the top 15 contractors of the government’s over P500 billion worth of flood control projects named by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. The President has said not all flood control projects cornered by these 15 contractors were done in areas that are flood-prone. – with a report from Mariel Celine Serquiña/VAL/RF, GMA Integrated News