Navotas City Representative Toby Tiangco has formally filed an ethics complaint against Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, accusing him of violating the Constitution, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and the internal rules of the House of Representatives.
According to Tiangco, Co violated the constitutional provision that states “public office is a public trust.”
As chair of the powerful House Committee on Appropriations, which crafted the controversial 2025 national budget, Co bears responsibility for the questionable budget insertions, Tiangco argued.
“Consequently, the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) has been considered as the most scandalous, corrupt, and highly irregular budget. The insertions bypassed priority projects and cast serious doubts on the legitimacy of purpose,” Tiangco said in his complaint.
He added, “Noticeably, certain foreign-assisted projects were diverted to unprogrammed appropriations. The justification for these acts remains a mystery to every [House] members.”
Tiangco stressed that the public deserves accountability.
“The public’s demand to hold liable those responsible for the insertions remains a roaring outcry of the people. However, Representative Co remains silent and beyond reach,” he said.
The Navotas lawmaker also raised concerns about Co’s absence from the House of Representatives at the start of the 20th Congress, allegedly due to a “medical condition.”
“No copy of his medical certificates has been submitted to the House and to the public. Consequently, his absence remained unsubstantiated,” Tiangco noted.
Beyond the 2025 budget controversy, Co has also been implicated in alleged kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).