House ethics panel chair urges Co to spill beans on flood control mess

Former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co should disclose everything he knows about the flood control controversy even if he has already resigned as a member of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber's ethics panel chairperson and 4Ps party-list Rep. JC Abalos said Tuesday.

In an interview on Balitanghali, Abalos reminded Co, the erstwhile chair of the House appropriations panel, of his duties to Filipinos despite tendering Monday his immediate resignation to Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy.

"I'm not only encouraging him, but it is an obligation we owe to the Filipino people, especially that he was an elected public official," Abalos said in an interview with Balitanghali.

"Our Constitution provides for it: Public office is a public trust and the Filipino people deserve answers," Abalos added.

Co is being accused by contractors and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials of being behind billions of budget amendments under the 2025 national budget supposedly for his personal gain. 

The House earlier scrapped an ethics complaint filed against Co by Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco involving the same issues since Co already resigned from his post as a House member, given that the harshest penalty that the House Ethics panel can mete is expulsion.

Zaldy's denial

Dismissed DPWH Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara earlier told a congressional inquiry that Co received commissions of 20% in 2022, and 25% from 2023 to 2025 off flood control projects.

Co has denied receiving any money from DPWH projects before resigning from his post as a House member, citing threats to his life and that of his family.

At the same time, Co said he could not be faulted for the budget insertions or amendments made by members of the House and the Senate, because all items under the P6.325-trillion budget were approved by Congress and ultimately, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Despite his resignation, Co maintained that he never made unlawful budget amendments.

"I wasn't the mastermind, and I did not tolerate or allow any supposed last minute-insertions and realignments in items in the 2025 GAA (General Appropriations Act). All items in the 2025 GAA, including those stated in the corresponding Bicameral [Conference Committee] Report, were approved at plenary sessions and following the collegial process of both houses of Congress," Co said in his resignation letter.

"The 2025 GAA was eventually signed into law by the President after what we, as members of the House of Representatives, understood to be a thorough scrutiny by His Excellency of each and every item to ensure that everything is in order. It is improbable, if not absolutely impossible, that I, on my own, could make any supposed 'insertions' without the knowledge or approval of the members of both chambers of Congress," Co said.

Co also cited the validity that the 2025 GAA or the national budget's legality is also being questioned before the Supreme Court and the Ombudsman, making allegations that the 2025 GAA is "premature" at best.

"Until such time as these tribunals make a ruling on the matter, it is premature for [Navotas] Representative [Tobias] Tiangco to make a claim that the 2025 GAA, including the Bicameral Report, is not valid and/or that I had, on my own, made insertions in these documents," Co said.

Further, Co said Tiangco was merely speculating when he alleged that the former Ako Bicol lawmaker "could have acquired or received personal pecuniary interest during his incumbency as member of the House of Representatives" from infrastructure projects awarded to Sunwest, Inc.

"I have not acquired or received personal pecuniary interest from such projects and I should not be penalized on the basis of Representative Tiangco's mere speculation. Again, it is premature for Representative Tiangco to make such statements considering that no court of law has made a determination as to whether or not I acquired or received anything from such projects," Co said.

"In any event, I am reserving my right to address the sham and baseless accusations made by Representative Tiangco at the appropriate time and before the appropriate forum," Co added.

In a related development, Malacañang on Tuesday called on Co to answer allegations leveled against him in relation to the flood control controversy.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said it would be better for Co to explain his side, emphasizing that the former party-list representative cannot not run away from these issues. — VDV, GMA Integrated News