Ako Bicol party-list Representative and former House Appropriations Committee chairperson Zaldy Co is currently in the United States for “medical treatment,” House Spokesperson Atty. Princess Abante confirmed Thursday.
This comes as questions continue to swirl over alleged questionable insertions in the 2025 budget for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which ballooned by more than ₱100 billion compared to the National Expenditure Program (NEP).
On Tuesday, House Senior Deputy Minority Leader Edgar Erice initially moved to summon Co and former Senate Finance Committee chair Grace Poe before the House Infrastructure Committee to explain the DPWH budget hike. He later withdrew his motion.
Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco accused Co of inserting ₱13.8 billion in the bicameral version of the 2025 budget.
“Sa pagkakaalam ko, he is currently out of the country. Nasa United States siya for medical treatment with appropriate travel documents,” Abante told reporters. She did not disclose Co’s expected period of stay abroad.
Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. confirmed Co’s trip, saying his colleague had accompanied his child to Boston University and later underwent a medical check-up.
“That’s confirmed. Hinatid niya ‘yung anak niya sa Boston University, and in time also for his regular check up doon. So, pagkahatid niya, ngayon, nagpa-check-up siya. But 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… may ika-conduct na extensive check-up sa kanya. So, he’s still in the United States as we speak,” Garbin explained.
He also defended Co against Tiangco’s allegations, stressing that no single lawmaker can be solely responsible for the passage of the national budget.
“Wala akong alam. Hindi ako part ng 19th Congress. But if you talk about General Appropriation Act, it’s not an act of just one member of Congress. That’s an act of Congress,” Garbin said. “That was approved by Congress and signed into law by the President and he himself participated, and cast his vote in the affirmative and it’s approval. 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.”
Since the opening of the 20th Congress last July 28, House journals show that Co has been absent without notice on four session days, absent with notice once, and present in four committee meetings.
Co has yet to respond to mounting allegations linking him and his family to questionable flood control projects and budget insertions, having repeatedly ignored media requests for comment.